MIAMI SHORES, FL. – The 2018 Barry University women's volleyball team (9-0, 1-0) has tied the best start in the program's history. The only other team to begin their season with nine straight victories was the 1994 Buccaneers squad. This ninth victory was the sweetest to date because it was the team's first Sunshine State Conference game against a familiar foe in the Nova Southeastern Sharks (2-6, 0-1).

"It was a good start to the conference season," Buccaneers head coach Steve Hendricks said. It's always going to be a battle with Nova. Even though we won 3-0, they're very talented," Hendricks added. "It's hard to win on the road in the SSC and we're happy to get a road win."

The Bucs have a chance to win a program best - tenth straight match tomorrow night against another SSC opponent, Lynn University. Hendricks spoke about what it would mean to his team. "Our players are aware of what is at stake. There is so much history at Barry University with phenomenal teams. For us to have an opportunity to be a part of that history with amazing coaches and teams is really an honor."

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:

Game One Final: Barry 3, Nova 0
Records: Barry (8-0), Nova (2-6)
All-Time Series: Barry is 37-8 against Nova

SUMMARY:
Game one

• 1st set | The Bucs built a comfortable lead early on in Fort Lauderdale. That was mostly in large part due to the offensive attacks of junior Megi Buvinic, who finished the set with five kills. Barry was an impressive 15-28 on their attacks with only one attack error - leading to a .500 hitting percentage. Buvinic also recorded two of the teams four blocks in the set.
• 2nd set | Nova played well enough during this set to take it. Barry somehow managed to sneak away with the two-point win and put the pressure on the Sharks behind six kills from Kristina Filimonova in just eight attempts (.750). The freshman setter Bianca Pasca tallied 13 of her 36 assists in this set.
• 3rd set | The Bucs came out ready to put the Sharks away with a 7-1 lead early on. Kishara Gordon had a block party with three of her six blocks coming in the final set.  

NOTEWORTHY:.

• Buvinic tied a season-high kills (13) and had the second highest hitting percentage this season (.407) - 10 attempts. 
• Barry has hit over .300 in back-to-back games.
• Filimonova had a season-high eight digs.
• Pasca has 297 assists in nine games (11 assists per set).

ON THE HORIZON:

The Buccaneers return to action tomorrow afternoon against another conference opponent - Lynn University. The match is set for 4:00 pm in Boca Raton, Fla. Barry is 31-12 all-time against the Knights and is chasing their 10th win of the season which would be the best start in the programs history.