DAVIE, Fla. – The Barry University volleyball team (9-15, 2-7 SSC) dropped a 3-1 Sunshine State Conference decision to the Nova Southeastern Sharks (20-7, 7-3 SSC) on Wednesday night at the University Center. The game scores were 27-30, 30-24, 31-29, and 30-24. Despite the loss, Buccaneer Lauren Evans (Jr., Plano, Texas) achieved two career milestones with a career-best 32 digs in a single match and eclipsed 1,000 career digs.
Heading into Wednesday night’s match, Evans only needed seven digs to reach 1,000 for her career. But a superb defensive effort accounted for a 32-dig effort landing her with 1,025 at the conclusion of the match. She is only the sixth volleyball player in Barry history to achieve the 1,000 dig milestone and she is currently 69 digs away from matching former SSC Player of the Year Jade Harper’s 1,089 career digs, which ranks fifth all-time.
As for the match, Barry was down 16-11 in the first game, but rallied from the five-point deficit to win the first game 30-27. In game two, Nova led 6-5 and then AleyTallman served the next six points for a 12-5 Shark lead. NSU finally evened the match at one game apiece with a 30-24 win.
In game three, Barry led 23-19, before the Sharks went on a 8-0 run to regain the lead 27-23. The Buccaneers managed to tie the set 28-28, but Nova score three of the last four points for the 31-29 win. NSU jumped out to commanding 10-2 lead in the fourth set and cruised to a 30-24 win to take the match.
Barry’s Camilla Pagnan recorded the Bucs’ only double-double with 25 kills and 12 digs, while Maria Romanowski dished out 46 assists. Evans led all defensive players with her career-high 32 digs, while Julie Priester collected 10 for Barry.
Tallman led the Sharks with a double-double performance, 15 kills and 18 digs. Melinda Gorman added 13 kills and eight blocks, while Andrea Irarrazabal followed with 10 kills. Valia Petrova guided the Sharks offense with 51 assists and Kathleen Yony collected 16 digs.
The Buccaneers will return to action on Friday, Oct. 19 in West Palm Beach, Fla. facing off with Palm Beach Atlantic at 7 pm.
Nova Southeastern def. Barry 27-30, 30-24, 31-29, 30-24
Barry (9-15, 2-7 SSC) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Camilla Pagnan 25-0-1; Caitlin Shawver 7-1-1; Samara Ferreira 6-1-2; Stefanie Sveiven 5-0-3; Meisje-Sable Burton 4-1-2; Maria Romanowski 2-4-2; Danielle Bishop 1-0-3; Lauren Evans 0-1-0; Totals 50-8-7.0. (Assists) - Maria Romanowski 46. (Dig leaders) - Lauren Evans 32; Camilla Pagnan 12; Julie Priester 10; Maria Romanowski 10
Nova Southeastern (20-7, 7-3 SSC) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Aley Tallman 15-2-2; Melinda Gorman 13-0-8; Andrea Irarrazabal 10-0-3; Christina Chubb 9-2-2; Emily Carle 8-0-6; Valia Petrova 6-1-4; Alison Kalish 1-0-0; Totals 62-5-14.5. (Assists) - Valia Petrova 51. (Dig leaders) - Aley Tallman 18; Kathleen Yony 16; Alison Kalish 15; Valia Petrova 14
Site: Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. (University Center)
Date: 10/17/2007 Attend: 372 Time: 2:15
Referees: Tracey Travis, Harry Gist