MIAMI SHORES, FL. - Opening up the home portion of their schedule on Friday evening with a back-and-forth Sunshine State Conference (SSC) clash against nationally-ranked University of Tampa that featured 55 tied scores, the Barry University volleyball team took the opening set over the fourth-ranked Spartans in a 3-1 (31-33, 25-21, 25-17, 25-22) setback.
 

INSIDE THE MATCHUPS:

Final: Tampa 3, Barry 1,  
Records: Barry (3-6, 0-3 SSC), Tampa (9-0, 3-0 SSC)
All-Time Series: Tampa leads 49-21

SUMMARY:

• Set 1 - Neither side held a lead greater than three in a first set that saw 24 tied scores before back-to-back Diana Akopova kills ended the frame.
• Set 2 - Tampa used a late 4-0 run with the score of the second set tied at 19-all to take a 23-19 advantage, splitting the final four points of the stanza to knot the overall score at 1-1.
• Set 3 - The Spartans opened the third set with the opening four points and never trailed, using a 9-1 run midway through the frame to boast a 17-9 advantage.
• Set 4 - Barry overcame an 18-15 deficit behind a 3-0 run to knot the score, pulling ahead 22-20 before a 5-0 Tampa run ended the contest.

NOTEWORTHY:

• Akopova led all players with 22 kills, adding 10 digs for a double-double on top of a solo block and assisted block.
• Varvara Osychenko chipped in 12 kills and 12 digs with two assisted blocks and two service aces.
• Ana Perez boasted a game-best 26 digs.
• Thalia Iglesias dished out 39 assists.
• Ivana Zujovic tallied four assisted blocks and one solo block.
• Barry held an 86-85 advantage in digs.
• The Bucs totaled nine blocks, Tampa accumulated five.
• Barry held Tampa to a season-low .202 hitting percentage.

ON THE HORIZON:

The Buccaneers host Florida Southern College on Saturday, Sept. 23 with first serve set for 4 p.m.