BOCA RATON, Fla. -- Barry University's volleyball team rose to the occasion on a packed Friday in Buccaneer sports. Indeed, it was a good day to be a Buccaneer.
Barry defeated host Lynn, 25-23, 26-24, 22-25, 22-25, 15-11, marking the first time this season the Bucs won a five-set match in three attempts this season.
The Buccaneers (9-14, 2-9 Sunshine State Conference) hit .264 on the heels of freshman setter Jenny Trinidad's career-best 50 assists, four kills and 11 digs, while hitting .444. The Fighting Knights (16-13, 3-8) hit .246.
Barry's Laine Cielena pounded a career-high 18 kills, five block assists and hit .457. Ivana Didanovic had a season-best 15 kills, five blocks and an ace, while hitting .419.
The Buccaneers saved their best attack performances for last, registering a .375 percentage in the fourth set and .364 in the fifth. Lynn had a whopping .516 in the fourth set to send this one to a winner-take-all finale, but the Bucs' defense neutralized the Fighting Knights in the decisive fifth set, holding Lynn to five kills and a .182 attack rate in 22 hitting attempts. Barry had 12 kills in as many attempts in the final set.
Tashalyn Begon and Ashley Carrero each had 12 kills and 14 digs. Begon's had season-highs in both categories. Jasmine Serna matched a season-best 20 digs.
The Buccaneers, who outblocked the Fighting Knights 11-9, had a season-best 72 digs. Five players had double figures in the dig department.
Barry will play at Nova Southeastern 7 p.m. Saturday.