BOCA RATON, Fla. – A fast start and a 2-1 lead was not enough for the Lynn University volleyball team on Friday night as the squad hosted Nova Southeastern University in its home-opener. The Sharks finished strong for a 3-2 victory in the first Sunshine State Conference tilt of the 2016 season.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: Nova Southeastern 3, Lynn 2 (15-25, 25-19, 21-25, 25-18, 15-5)
Records: Nova Southeastern (6-3, 1-0 SSC), Lynn (6-2, 0-1 SSC)
Location: de Hoernle Sports and Cultural Center | Boca Raton, Fla.
All-time Series: Lynn leads 21-20
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HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Set 1 | Claire Angelich looked sharp in her first action since the season-opener, putting away her first six attempts of the night. Marissa Tandron had the offense rolling with 16 helpers and Katie Knight held down the back with nine digs as Lynn came out hot.
• Set 2 | Back-to-back solo blocks from NSU's Maddie Uilk helped the visitors pull away following a 13-12 tally. Cleuza Porto got involved with four kills (.300) and five digs in the frame.
• Set 3 | A 5-0 run to start the third gave Lynn a nice cushion it wouldn't give back to grab a 2-1 lead in the match. Porto swung 5-of-8 on the attack and Nicol Colonna scooped up six digs.
• Set 4 | The Sharks started to find a rhythm in the fourth, ultimately hitting .400 in the stanza with three aces. A 7-1 run late allowed NSU to earn their second win and force a fifth set.
• Set 5 | Nova carried the momentum over to the deciding game and never surrendered the lead, hitting .600 while forcing Lynn into six errors as the visitors took the match in five.

• The Fighting Knights featured a balanced attack on the night, recording four players with double-digit kills. Porto led the way with 16, followed by Cristina Llorens and Lydia West with 14 and Angelich with 13.
• Tandron dished out 58 assists, one shy of her career-high set in the second match of the year.
• Knight posted a match-high 22 digs, followed by Colonna with 12. Porto rounded out her second consecutive double-double with 11 digs.
• NSU's Jessica Ronyak put away a match-high 21 kills on a .370 clip to bolster the Sharks' offense.

• The Sharks have taken the last two matchups vs. Lynn in tight five-set matches, both in Boca Raton. 
• Lynn has gone to five sets in four of its eight matches so far this season.
• Both of Lynn's defeats on the year have come in five-set matches.
• Usually a dominant force at the serving line, the Fighting Knights were limited to a season-low two aces.

UP NEXT:
Lynn returns to action tomorrow, Saturday, Sept. 17 with a 1 p.m. road contest at 17^th-ranked Palm Beach Atlantic.