MIAMI SHORES, Fla. — For the second time this year, the Barry Volleyball team upsets Tampa in straight sets. The Bucs welcomed the ninth-ranked Spartans to the Health & Sports Center on Thursday evening and defeated them in straight sets. In between sets, the athletic department recognized academic success for Barry student-athletes. Volleyball players, Ester Pushkarov and Gaia Riedmüller, were recognized for joining the 4.0 club in the Spring 2024 semester.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: #9 Tampa 0, #21 Barry 3
Records: Tampa (21-3, 13-3 SSC), Barry (19-4, 12-4 SSC)
All-Time Series: Tampa leads Barry 50-23
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Set One - The Buccaneers opened up with all the momentum in a 7-1 rally. Barry kept a healthy lead through the set to take it rather easily. As a team, the Bucs hit .333 with 12 kills, and four service aces. | Barry 25, Tampa 18
- Set Two - This was a more competitive and balanced set with each team fighting for every point. The offense went to work securing 20 of their 26 points via a kill. The set saw 10 ties and four lead changes ending in deuce. A kill from Diana Akopova and service ace from Riedmüller sealed the set victory. | Barry 26, Tampa 24
- Set Three - Once down by as many as four, multiple times, the resilient Bucs fought their way back into the set. Tampa was two points away from forcing a set four but a five-point rally denied the opportunity. The Bucs earned points by every which way off a Varvara Osychenko service ace, an Akopova kill, and block assists from Ivana Žujovic and Thalia Iglesias. Žujovic ended the match for the Bucs with a dump after an overpass at the net. | Barry 27, Tampa 25
NOTEWORTHY:
- The 20 kills in the second set are a season-high for the Bucs.
- Barry led in kills at 47-42, blocks 6-4, assists 44-42, and digs 47-46.
- Akopova had a match-high 26-kills hitting .393 and picking up six digs.
- The Bucs are 39-17 in set wins in SSC play this season.
- This is the first time since 2004 that Barry has swept the season series over the Spartans.
- It is the first time since 1995 that the Bucs win the season series via two sweeps.
ON THE HORIZON:
Barry will continue their home stretch hosting Florida Southern on Saturday afternoon from the Health & Sports Center. First serve is set for 4:00 p.m.
