Tampa, Fla. – After winning the first set, the Lynn University volleyball team dropped three straight frames to #5 Tampa, 25-27, 25-23, 25-11, 25-16 Friday night at the Spartans' Bob Martinez Sports Center.

Lynn falls to 9-5 overall and 2-3 in the SSC while Tampa improves to 12-3 overall and 4-1 in the conference.

The Fighting Knights were paced offensively by Mallory Deneen (13 kills) and Chelsea Semprini (12 kills).  Senior libero Lacy Redwine had another great game defensively, recording her second straight match with at least 30 digs, accumulating 31 on the day.  

Senior setter Devon Woolard also became the second 1,000/1,000 player in Lynn history as she recorded her fifth dig in the fourth set and posted eight for the day.  She now has recorded a Lynn record 3,934 assists and 1,003 digs in her career.

LU won a first set thriller, 27-25 as the teams were neck and neck throughout the frame.  Lynn took an early 3-0 lead, but to allow three unanswered points from Tampa.  After taking a 12-9 lead after two setting errors by the Spartans, Tampa called its first timeout.  An ace by Redwine put Lynn up four at 16-12, and after a kill by Kala Abdell, Tampa called its second timeout as Lynn held a 19-17 advantage.

Tampa responded after the break with consecutive points and aftertrading points, Lynn called its first timeout at 23-all.  Tampa took its first lead at 24-23 and Lynn called another timeout.  Three kills by Deneen gave Lynn a set point and a block by Abdell and Abbey Brokop clinched the set.

The Spartans took set two, 25-23, in a frame that was very similar to the first, except for the final score.  Lynn jumped out to a lead and after a pair of Tampa timeouts, UT closed to within one at 21-20.  After LU called a timeout, Deneen and Katie Bradley scored on kills, but after a controversial call put Tampa on top, 24-23, Lynn called its second timeout.  A kill by Jessica Yingling gave the Spartans the win.

After coming-from-behind to win the second, Tampa came out firing on all cylinder in the third and took a 6-1 lead.  After a Lynn timeout, the Knights scored three straight points, but the Spartans went back on the offensive and took a ten-point lead at 17-7, forcing another LU timeout.  UT won the set, 25-11 and outhit Lynn, .524 to -.037.

The deciding set was similar to the third, as Tampa seemed like it couldn't miss and when Lynn looked to regain momentum, the Spartans would go on a mini-run of their own.  UT took the fourth set, 25-16, outhitting Lynn .361 to .154.

The Fighting Knights are back in action Saturday, October 2 when they travel just south to Eckerd College for a 4:00 pm SSC match.  Fans can follow all of the action live by logging on to www.LynnFightingKnights.com and selecting "Game Central."