LAKELAND, FLA. - For the 10th-consecutive season, the sixth-ranked Barry University volleyball team opened its campaign 1-0 on Friday afternoon after besting Flagler College 3-1 (25-21, 27-25, 18-25, 25-16)  at the Florida Southern College Volleyball Classic

INSIDE THE MATCHUPS:
Final: Barry 3, Flagler 2
Records: Barry (1-0), Flagler (0-2)
All-Time Series: Barry leads 3-1

SUMMARY:

• Set 1 - Trailing early 6-1, the Buccaneers scored eight of the following 10 points to take a 9-8 advantage. Flagler scored the next point to even the score at 9-all, with neither side holding a lead greater than one over the ensuing 10 points before a 3-0 Barry run created a 17-14 score. Barry kept the lead for the rest of the frame, fending off a Flagler rally that got the Saints within one at 19-18.
• Set 2 - Barry trailed for the bulk of the second set, taking their first lead of the frame at 19-18 behind a late 4-0 run. Flagler responded with the ensuing point to even the score, reclaiming the lead at 23-22 and forcing set point at 24-23. Barry flipped the one-point advantage to serve for the set, answering Flagler's point that knotted the score at 25-all with back-to-back kills.
• Set 3 - After trading the opening 16 points of the third set, Flagler used a 4-0 run to take a 12-8 lead which they held for the duration of the frame.
• Set 4 - The Bucs used a 7-2 start to the fourth frame to quickly take the lead and never looked back, keeping the separation greater than three for the duration of the contest while leading by as many as nine.

NOTEWORTHY:

• Diana Akopova kicked off her American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Player of the Year defense with a double-double, boasting a team-leading 29 kills and 16 digs on top of two service aces, a solo block and assisted block.
• Thalia Iglesias dished out 38 assists with three service aces.
• Varvara Osychenko chipped in 12 kills with two service aces.
• Ana Perez added 14 digs.

ON THE HORIZON:

The sixth-ranked Buccaneers conclude their season-opening weekend at the FSC Volleyball Classic on Saturday, Sept. 2 against 17th-ranked Washburn with first serve slated for 12 p.m.