MIAMI SHORES, Fla. – Barry University’s volleyball team ran into a buzzsaw Saturday as No. 1 Tampa rolled to a 25-17, 25-15, 25-8 win.
It was the first time the Buccaneers (10-8, 3-5 Sunshine State Conference) met the Spartans (15-1, 8-0) when they were ranked No. 1 in NCAA Division II since Oct. 12, 2007. Tampa also won that match in three sets.
After a sluggish start, the Bucs used two straight Jenny Trinidad aces, a kill and an ace by Tashalyn Begon to trim Tampa’s lead to 17-14. But Barry was not able to get any closer in dropping the opening set. Tampa hit .520 in the first set.
In the second set, following Victoria Fajardo’s kill which cut Tampa’s deficit to 16-10, a Spartans hitting erro and Ivana Didanovic and Jasmine Serna combination block brought Barry within four. But Tampa, which hit .471 in the match, went on an extended run to take a 2-0 lead into intermission.
Tampa, which has won an SSC- and school-record 44 straight matches, converted all eight of its sideouts in the third set, putting away 17 balls and hitting .500 in winning the final set comfortably. Barry had four kills and four errors in the third set, and managed just eight of 25 sideouts.
Barry’s Jayla Trombley had seven kills and a .300 attack percentage. Kristina Boncheva had four kills, and Begon and Fajardo three apiece. Serna had 12 assists. Brittany Jaco had 10 of Barry’s 26 digs. Didanovic finished with four kills and two blocks.
Tampa’s Marissa Lisenbee had 11 kills on .529 attacking. Jessica Wagner hit .500 and had 10 kills, and Berkley Whaley had eight kills, 13 digs and a .571 attack rate. Kahley Patrick had 35 assists.
The Spartans, which never trailed in the match, were 30 of 42 in sideout opportunities. Barry was 29 of 74.
The Buccaneers will compete in the South Region Crossover Friday and Saturday in the first of two straight weekend trips to Winter Park, Fla.