TAMPA, Fla. - The Lynn volleyball team played a tough match but came up short against No. 1 Tampa on Friday night, falling 3-0 (19-25, 18-25, 17-25) inside the Bob Martinez Athletics Center. Despite a strong offensive showing from Nadia Rossi and Lillia Neill, who combined for 18 kills, the Fighting Knights couldn't overcome the Spartans' efficiency at the net. With the result, Lynn moves to 15-3 overall and 5-3 in Sunshine State Conference play, while Tampa remains unbeaten on the season.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Set 1: Tampa, 25-19
- Lynn jumped ahead 1-0 behind an opening kill from Neill, assisted by Brooke Jackson.
- The Spartans responded with a 6-1 surge to take a 10-4 lead
- Alexia Radulovic entered and notched a kill to help spark the Fighting Knights, while Neill and Rossi combined for three straight points to trim the deficit to 14-9
- After Tampa extended the lead to 19-10, Lynn caught fire with a 7-2 rally featuring kills from Radulovic, Neill, and Valentina Mogg, plus an ace from Radulovic to pull within 22-19
- Despite the late push, Tampa closed the set on back-to-back blocks to win it, 25-19
Set 2: Tampa, 25-18
- The Fighting Knights traded points early, with Laney Wilson and Rossi recording points to keep things close at 5-5
- Rossi's ace gave Lynn a brief 6-5 lead, but Tampa countered with a 4-1 stretch at 9-7
- Lynn kept battling as Neill, Jackson and Rossi connected for kills to make it 13-13 midway through the frame
- Tampa regained control down the stretch, using a 7-3 run to take a 20-16 advantage
- Mogg added a late kill for Lynn, but Tampa's serving pressure and a set-clinching ace gave the Spartans the second, 25-18
Set 3: Tampa, 25-17
- Tampa opened with strong defense, capitalizing on early Lynn miscues for a 5-1 edge
- Jackson and Rossi provided key kills to keep the Fighting Knights within reach at 9-8
- The Fighting Knights kept the frame tight at 14-12 following a flurry of kills from Jackson and Neill
- Radulovic and Rossi continued to attack effectively for Lynn, combining for three late kills, yet Tampa's balanced offense maintained momentum
- Despite a fighting effort from the Blue and White, the Spartans closed on an 11-7 finish to seal the set, 25-17, and earn the 3-0 match victory
 
FIGHTING KNIGHT STATS:
- Rossi led the offense with 10 kills, hitting .222, while adding one ace and four digs for a team-high 11 points
- Neill matched Rossi with eight kills on .412 hitting, committing just one error on 17 swings
- Radulovic contributed six kills, one ace, and one block assist for 7.5 points
- Jackson tallied eight kills and seven digs while Mogg added two kills in two sets of action
- Ula Gorjup directed the offense with 34 assists and anchored the defense with 11 digs
- Fabia Gonzalez Stanton led the back row with nine digs, while Haidyn Spano chipped in eight
- Lynn finished the match with 36 kills, .131 hitting percentage, 49 digs, and two service aces
 
UP NEXT:
The Fighting Knights continue their three-game road trip as the Blue and White head to Lakeland to take on Florida Southern in another key SSC matchup on Saturday, Oct. 18 at 4:00 pm.