Volleyball Drops Conference Match To Florida Tech

Volleyball Drops Conference Match To Florida Tech
Mima Hajdukovic led the Bucs with 10 kills, 32 assists and 17 digs in the loss. Photo by Jeff LaLiberte.

MELBOURNE, Fla.—The Barry University volleyball team dropped a 3-1 (25-19, 18-25, 24-21, 25-20) road match to the Florida Tech Panthers on Friday evening. The Florida Tech win was their first against the Buccaneers since 2008.

The Panthers (4-8, 3-2 SSC) started strong in set one, taking a 12-7 lead in the early going. Barry (7-3, 1-3 SSC) took seven of the next nine points with the help of kills by Mima Hadjukovic, Morgan Howard, Mariana Lisboa, and Taylor Zirwas to go down 15-14. The Panthers, however, were too strong, taking set one 25-19.

The Bucs dominated the second set, taking an 11-6 lead in the early going. Hajdukovic, Lisboa, Tania Torres, and Lanie Muys each had two service points in the run. The Panthers tried to stay close, but up 16-9, Barry took four straight off of a pair of Lisboa service aces and a kill apiece by Lisboa and Alicia Guerrero. The Bucs took the set 25-18.

In the third set, the Bucs worked out to a 4-0 lead with the help of kills by Muys and Hajdukovic. Florida Tech, jumped right back in it, however, after taking 10 of the next 15 points for a 10-9 lead. The Panthers controlled the remainder of the game and took a 25-21 win in set three.

The teams were evenly matched throughout much of the fourth set, tied multiple times through 15-15. Tech took six straight for a 21-15 lead before relinquishing the serve to the Bucs. Barry fought back, taking five straight to go down 21-20. The Panthers, however, proved too much as they took set four 25-21.

For the Buccaneers, Torres had 16 kills while Hajdukovic had 10. Hajdukovic led the defense with 17 digs while Muys had five blocks, two solo.