Women's Volleyball | 8/30/2003 11:58:00 AM

Box Score Jacksonville, Fla. -- Behind superb play of senior Fernanda Ferriera and freshman Nicole Castera, the Barry University volleyball team blanked the Ferris State Bulldogs 3-0 in the season-opener at the Osprey Invitational hosted by North Florida.

Early season jitters kept the Bulldogs within range of the Bucs in the first match of the 2003 campaign. However, the Bucs were able to hold their ground against an impressive serve attack winning all three games 30-25, 30-17, 30-26.

Evenly matched, both teams swapped leads until the Buccaneers rallied past the Bulldogs to win the first game. With the Bucs leading 8-3 in game two, Samanta Tucillo served the next 10 points sending Barry on a 10-0 run for a commanding 18-3 lead and dominating game two. The Bucs never trailed again in the final game and held on for a convincing win in the season-opener.

Ferreira led the Bucs with nine kills and four blocks, while Castera tallied eight kills and three blocks (one solo) in her first career start. Sarah Alexander and Kelly Dantas each posted a .667 attack percentage to lead the Bucs' .299 team attack percentage.

Karla Fairbanks led the Bulldogs with 18 kills.

Opening up with a win, the Buccaneers will resume play Saturday afternoon at 4 pm for their second match of the day against Northern Kentucky.