The Sandspur

Issue date: 11/12/04 Section: Sports

Media Credit: RC SID WHAT A FOX!: Sophomore Ami Fox gets the ball over the net under the watch eye of teammate Junior Lindsey Crosby.

The Rollins College volleyball team beat the Florida Tech Panthers in a dramatic five set affair with the scores of 29-31, 30-19, 30-19, 26-30, 19-17. Julia Caner lead the way for the Tars with 19 kills and 14 digs. The Panthers came out strong in the first set taking an early two point lead; Rollins fought back with good defense and a solid offensive game and lead 28-25. Florida Tech did not surrender though and tied the set at 29.

The Tars could not stop their surging opponent and lost the first set 29-31. The momentum would then shift to Rollins, which came out emboldened in the second and third set. In the second set the Tars took an early lead, and while the Panthers got it close at 15-14, they went on a strong run to close the set. The third set was a cakewalk for the Rollins women, they leapt out of the gate and took a seven point lead at the first timeout. Rollins would stay in control for the entire set, and every time Florida Tech seemed to threaten, the Tars would surge once again. Florida Tech came out strong in the fourth set determined not to lose this important match. Both teams went neck and neck through the first twenty points, and the set was tied at 10. Rollins got a small three point lead, but Florida Tech responded with a 8-2 run to take a three point lead of their own. They managed that lead the rest of the way and won the set by four points.

As many matches this season for the Rollins Tars, this one came down to a fifth and decisive set. It was a dramatic one with both teams going back and forth throughout most of the early action. Rollins fell behind one point, but then quickly came back to get a two point lead at 9-7. The Tars then surged ahead with great play taking a five point lead and being only two points away from the win. Yet the Panthers continued to fight hard, they managed to tie the game at 13, and this one had lots of action still left in it. Florida Tech would then get to match point, but Rollins beat it back three times to tie the set at 16. Rollins then grabbed their first match point at 18-17, and managed to hold the point for the win.

The win takes the Rollins record to 19-12 overall and got the women to one game over .500 in the Sunshine State Conference at 7-6. Florida Tech fell to 4-19 overall and 3-9 in conference play.

Rollins had four players in double figures offensively, with Caner grabbing 19 kills, Amy Barlow with 17 kills, Lorena Orlandini with 15, and Allison North with 13.

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