Melbourne, Fla. – Lynn University's volleyball team defeated Florida Tech in four sets (25-22, 30-28, 22-25, 25-23) Tuesday night at the Panthers' Clemente Center. The Fighting Knights had five players with double-digit kills and improve to 20-8 overall and 11-4 in the Sunshine State Conference.
The 20 victories for Lynn is the fourth straight season with at least 20 victories and the 11 conference victories is an all-time high.
Katie Bradley led the squad with 14 kills and 12 digs for a double-double while Haley Pratt and Kala Abdell added 11 kills and Chelsey Semprini chipped in with 10. Abdell also had 11 digs for a double-double while Devon Woolard put up 45 assists, 10 digs and six kills.
Defensively, Lacy Redwine recorded 27 digs while Pratt and Sophie Gagnon had four total blocks apiece.
Lynn outhit Florida Tech .233 to .170 for the match.
Bradley and Pratt led Lynn on opposite sides of the ball as the Fighting Knights took the opening set, 25-22. After jumping out to a 3-0 lead, Lynn allowed Florida Tech to get back into the match and tie the score at 14. Two kills apiece by Pratt and Bradley gave LU an 18-14 lead and forced a Panther timeout. FIT would get as close as 24-22 but a kill by Gagnon gave the Knights a win in the opener.
The Fighting Knights took a thrilling second set, 30-28, as the Panthers fought back from a four-point deficit. FIT had two set points but with the score locked at 28, Lynn clinched the frame with a kill by Pratt and a dual block by Woolard and Gagnon. Bradley recorded five kills and Woolard added three kills and a block to lead the Blue & White.
Florida Tech took the third set, 25-22, in a contest that was neck-and-neck throughout featuring 11 ties and four lead changes, identical to the previous set. The Panthers outhit the Fighting Knights .243 to .156 in the third. Abdell led LU with five kills in the set but seven total blocks by FIT did the Knights in.
In come-from-behind fashion, Lynn took the decider, 25-23 as the Fighting Knights hit .295 compared to just .158 for the Panthers.
LU plays in its final regular season contest when they travel to Saint Leo Friday, November 12, at 7 pm. Fans can follow the action by logging onto www.LynnFightingKnights.com and clicking on "Game Central."
