The Spartans were defeated by the University of Miami Redhawks on day two of the volleyball tournament on August 31, 2024, in Joseph Echols Hall. This was the Spartans third game of the tournament and their first loss of the season.
It’s always good to start with wins early, and that was the whole reason for us to have a tournament in the first place here,” said NSU Volleyball head coach, Kathy Bullock. “I think our performance overall was up and down, but it was a great match for us to see where we really are.
The Spartans got the first three points of set one from a kill by outside hitters Gabrielle Gilbert and Alexa Harris, and an attacking error on Red Hawks outside hitter Ava Francis.
Trying to take the lead, the Redhawks bridged the gap in score and tied with the Spartans four times. Maintaining their lead, the Spartans spaced the score out with a block from middle blocker, Adlene Jideofor, and two attacking errors on the Redhawks.
Gilbert won a joust at the net against Redhawks setter, Hayden Hicks, and got a service ace soon after for the Spartans.
Redhawks opposite hitter, Ana Vetter, had her own service ace at the end of the set, but followed was a kill from Gilbert that gave the Spartans the set 25-20.
Redhawks middle hitter, Lydia Michelin, came in strong to start set two with an overpass kill and block, giving her team the lead. Followed was a setter dump from Sydney McCree to give the Spartans their first point of the set.
Soon after, the Redhawks went on a 8-1 scoring run to strengthen their lead, but Spartans Jala Dixon put a stop to it with a kill at the end of a rally.
As the Spartans tried to catch up in score, Michelin had back-to-back blocks to put the game back into the Redhawks’ hands.
The Spartans fought hard to stay in the game, but the Redhawks took the set 25-14 after going on a 5-0 scoring run.
“If we would have performed better, I would have felt a little bit better about any kind of calls that were made,” said Bullock. We know we have to get back in the gym and work on the things we talk about all the time so next time we step on the court; we just have to be prepared to do a better job to serve and serve/receive”
Set three started with a rally between the teams that included saves and tips on both sides, but the Redhawks got the first point from a kill by Vetter.
The Redhawks kept their foot on the gas, going on another 5-0 scoring run from service aces and attacking errors on the Spartans.
Because of their resilience, the Spartans went on their own scoring run that included a kill from middle blocker, Reagan Chislom, by a quick set from defense specialist, Jasmine Mataira, and a block from outside hitter, Catori Crawford.
The Spartans tied the score with the Redhawks, and the teams battled for the lead having multiple lead changes at the end of the set. Due to Spartan errors and questionable calls from the ref, the third set went to the Redhawks 25-18.
The fourth set began with a Spartan point with a kill from Harris, followed by a block from Hicks to tie the score. A 7-0 scoring run for the Redhawks put them ahead and gave them the momentum for the rest of the set.
Spartan outside hitter, Jordan Lyons, stopped the scoring run with a kill, but the Redhawks’ tough defense put the ball back in their hands and helped them grow their lead.
With a good hustle and constant foot movement, the Spartans won a long rally that ended with a kill from McCree.
Determined to give their all, a block from Harris helped the Spartans keep their spirits high, but the Redhawks’ drive took them all the way home to take the set and win the game 25-11.
The Spartans leaders of the game were Gabrielle Gilbert with 12 kills, Adlene Jideofor and Alexa Harris with 2 blocks, and Lily Rose-Pichon with 10 digs.
The Redhawks leaders of the game were Ana Vetter with 10 kills and 5 aces, Gentry Warrick with 3.5 blocks, and Anna McClure with 10 digs.
The Spartans next game will be against the University of North Carolina Niners on September 4, 2024, in Charlotte, North Carolina at 6 p.m.
Spartan Echo 