Lynn University

MIAMI SHORES, Fla. - No. 12 Lynn University volleyball opened Sunshine State Conference play with a 3-0 setback to No. 11 Barry on Friday night at the Health & Sports Center. The Fighting Knights fell 25-22, 25-18 and 25-17, moving to 8-2 overall and 0-1 in conference play.
 
Zara Rendic led Lynn with a match-high 13 kills, while Alexia Radulovic added eight. The Fighting Knights held a 37-33 advantage in kills, but Barry used eight service aces and 11 blocks to secure the victory.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Set One: Barry 25, Lynn 22
- Barry jumped ahead 5-2 before Lynn pulled within one at 10-9 following consecutive Buccaneer attacking errors
- Rendic delivered three kills during the early exchanges, including one that tied the set at 13-13
- Barry responded with a 7-1 run to build a 20-14 advantage, aided by three service aces
- Lynn battled back late, with Radulovic contributing consecutive kills and Lillia Neill adding another as the Fighting Knights closed within 23-21
- A Barry service error brought Lynn within 24-22, but the Buccaneers claimed the opening set, 25-22
 
Set Two: Barry 25, Lynn 18
- Lynn answered an early 3-1 deficit with six consecutive points, taking a 7-3 lead behind three Rendic kills and two from Radulovic
- The Fighting Knights maintained a narrow advantage through the middle of the set, moving ahead 11-9 on a Madison Jones service ace and 13-12 following a Barry attacking error
- Barry then scored five straight points to turn a 13-12 deficit into a 17-13 lead
- Rendic recorded three more kills down the stretch, but the Buccaneers closed the set on a 5-1 run to take a 2-0 match advantage
 
Set Three: Barry 25, Lynn 17
- Lynn took an early 2-1 lead on kills from Lira Pukl Verdel and Audrey Shaw, but Barry answered with a 6-2 stretch to move ahead 7-4
- The Fighting Knights cut the deficit to 9-8 behind a Gorjup kill and Jones' second service ace of the night
- Barry gradually extended its lead to 18-13 before Rendic added another kill to keep Lynn within four
- Gorjup recorded a late service ace to make it 22-17, but the Buccaneers scored the final three points to complete the sweep
 
FIGHTING KNIGHT STATS:
- Rendic finished with 13 kills on 28 attempts, hitting .214
- Radulovic added eight kills, while Neill contributed five on .308 hitting
- Gorjup handed out 28 assists and added seven digs, three kills on .600 hitting and a service ace
- Pukl Verdel and Haidyn Spano shared the team lead with eight digs apiece
- Jones recorded two of Lynn's three service aces
- The Fighting Knights totaled 37 kills, 36 assists and 35 digs, but were held to a .127 hitting percentage. Barry finished with 33 kills and hit .241
 
UP NEXT:
Lynn faces a quick turnaround as it heads to Melbourne to take on the Panthers of Florida Tech in a SSC Saturday showdown set for 4:00 pm.