TAMPA, Fla. (Sept. 6, 2019) - Central Missouri made a bid to take down the No. 1 ranked Tampa Spartans, but fell just a few points shy in the end in a classic five-set battle (25-23, 20-25, 22-25, 25-21, 12-15). The Jens took the opening set, but couldn't hold on as they fell behind 2-1 before forcing a fifth set, which the Spartans ultimately took.
Play-by-Play
• The match featured 10 lead changes and 36 tie scores as all five sets were hotly contested.
• Both teams hit better than .200 with the Spartans hitting .233 and the Jennies .216. The Spartan defense picked up 78 digs to the Jennies 66.
• The Jens had an edge in blocks with seven to the Spartans four.
• Errors were abundant, especially off the serve. The two teams combined for 29 service errors with the Jennies making 15 and Tampa 14.
• The Jennies jumped out to an early 5-2 lead, but it didn't last long. Tampa came back to take their first lead, 9-8, since the opening point. The teams went back and forth and were tied as late as 18-18. Tampa though scored three of the next four points, taking their largest lead, 22-19. UCM came back in a big way. They finished the set scoring six of the final points. An attack error tied the game at 23-all and
Hannah Engelken gave UCM the lead with a service ace, while
Hannah VanBuskirk ended it with an ace.
• Set two saw another early Jennies lead, this time 7-4. UCM was still leading by one, 14-13, when Tampa made their run. The Spartans scored five straight on four kills and a service ace and didn't trail the rest of the way. The Jennies made it interesting scoring four straight to get to within four, 24-20, but a service error ended the set and tied the match.
• UCM scored the first four in set three, but Tampa was right there to answer and in the blink of an eye, the set was tied at five. A kill from
Rylee Neigenfind put the Jens back on top by four, 14-10, and again Tampa responded scoring six of the next eight and tying the set at 16. The teams traded points all the way to 22-22 when Tampa rattled off three straight to end the frame 25-22 and take a 2-1 lead in the match.
• Central Missouri raced out to a big lead in set four and held on to tie the match at two. The Jennies scored seven of the first eight points, taking advantage of three Spartan errors. The Jennies still led by seven, 17-10 when Tampa started to make it close. The Spartans got to within two, 21-19, and again, 23-21, but the Jennies put the set away with a kill from
Hannah Engelken.
• Tampa waited until a very opportune time to get out in front. They scored four of the first five and forced a UCM timeout at 4-1. Out of the break, the Jennies scored three straight with kills from Bell and Fisher. Tampa regained a slight lead, but back-to-back kills from Bell and Engelken retied the game at 11-all. Still tied at 12, the Spartans scored three straight to put the match away, 15-12.
Jennies Stat Leaders
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Aubree Bell collected a double-double with 11 kills and 10 digs. She also shared the team lead with four blocks.
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Hannah VanBuskirk was also in double-figure kills with 10.
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Ally Offerdahl added a double-double of her own with 43 assists and a team-high 18 digs.
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Audrey Fisher hit .296 and landed nine kills and four blocks.
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Abby Skrastins chipped in on defense with 15 digs.
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Hannah Engelken landed three service aces.
For the Spartans
• Katie McKiel hit .293 and landed 23 kills. She also played a role on defense with 18 digs.
• Nicole Dominguez picked up a game-high 22 digs.
• Sorrel Houghton added 17 kills.
• Sammy Mueller and Melissa Elias split the setting duties. Mueller passed out 30 while Elias had 22.
News and Notes
• The Spartans lead the all-time series 11-2 with the last two going to five sets.
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Aubree Bell picked up career dig number 300. She also got her first double-double since November of 2017.
• Engelken's three service aces are a new career-high.
• The Jennies went 5-7 last season against top-25 ranked teams. This was their first ranked opponent of 2019.
Up Next
• The Jennies will travel up the road to Lakeland, Fla. for a pair of games Saturday. They'll take on Hillsdale and host Florida Southern at 12:15 and 6:30 p.m. CT.
