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Spartans Reach Elite Eight

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By MATTHEW POSTINS, Tribune correspondent

Published: November 18, 2007

Updated: 11/18/2007 12:44 am

TAMPA - University of Tampa volleyball coach Chris Catanach arrived for the Spartans' workout Saturday morning and felt more comfortable with his team than he had in a couple of weeks.

Perhaps it was the Spartans' come-from-behind victory against Lynn the night before. Whatever it was, the Spartans rolled on in the NCAA Tournament, defeating Florida Southern 30-27, 30-26, 30-19 in the Division II South Region championship match Saturday night.

The Spartans, the nation's No. 2 team, advanced to the Elite Eight on Nov. 29-Dec. 1 at a site to be determined today. The Spartans, the defending national champions, could host the event.

Saturday night, the Spartans (31-2) played the match Catanach had been waiting to see for some time. They won nearly every key point. They won the serve-and-pass game. And they closed the deal in Game 3 by dominating the Moccasins (26-9), who handed UT its only Sunshine State Conference defeat on Oct. 30.

"Today when I came in for our serve and pass, I felt a confidence I had not in a while," Catanach said.

The momentum of Friday's win against Lynn - which featured a dramatic comeback from two games down - appeared to carry over to this match, though the Moccasins played the Spartans tough.

Florida Southern's key problem was its serve-and-pass game. The Mocs made nine service errors and had only one ace. UT had five aces and five service errors.

"We had it tied 20-20 in Game 2, and then we had three missed serves and kind of let them off the hook," FSC coach Jill Stephens said.

Outside hitter Katelen Dixon led Tampa with 15 kills.

USF Volleyball Falls To St. John's In Semis

MILWAUKEE - Despite a strong performance by senior Kristina Fabris, the University of South Florida volleyball team (19-9, 9-7) lost 29-31, 30-17, 30-27, 30-21 to St. John's in the Big East Conference Tournament semifinals.

The Red Storm were led by the middle blocking tandem of Big East Player of the Year Hui Ping Huang and Latoya Blunt. The duo combined for 39 kills.

UT Women Run To Best NCAA Finish Since '04

JOPLIN, Mo. - The University of Tampa men's and women's cross country teams concluded competition at the 2007 NCAA II Championships, with the women recording their best finish since 2004 with a 10th-place showing.

The men, competing in their first championship race, finished 22nd.

Laura Woznicki finished 10th overall, followed by senior Julia Vola's 50th-place finish out of 189 runners. Paige Williams, Jessica Forrester, Alysha Duffy, Dara Fox and Michelle Gabrielle also competed for UT.

David Forry paced the UT men in his final collegiate race. He finished 97th in the field of 187.

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