SARASOTA, Fla. - New College of Florida Volleyball erased a two-set deficit before falling 3-2 to No. 9 St. Thomas University on Saturday afternoon at the NCF Fieldhouse.
After dropping the opening two sets, the Mighty Banyans responded with victories in the third and fourth frames to force a deciding set. The Bobcats ultimately prevailed 25-22, 25-12, 21-25, 18-25, 15-13.
NCF moved to 15-6 overall and 7-4 in Sun Conference play, while St. Thomas improved to 17-5 and remained unbeaten in conference play at 11-0.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The opening set featured five ties and two lead changes. NCF registered 12 kills, but St. Thomas pulled out a 25-22 victory.
The Bobcats carried the momentum into the second set, limiting the Mighty Banyans to seven kills in a 25-12 decision.
Facing a two-set deficit, NCF responded in a back-and-forth third frame that included 11 ties and six lead changes. The Mighty Banyans held St. Thomas to a .033 hitting percentage and earned a 25-21 victory.
NCF continued its comeback in the fourth set, producing 12 kills while hitting a match-best .233. The Mighty Banyans controlled the frame from start to finish and won 25-18 to force a deciding set.
The fifth set featured eight ties as the teams battled for control. St. Thomas recorded 10 kills and hit .381 in the frame, escaping with a 15-13 victory to remain unbeaten in Sun Conference play.
Soraya Nacero led NCF with 17 kills and nine digs. Madison Goin added 13 kills, eight digs, two service aces and two solo blocks, finishing with a team-high 17 points alongside Nacero.
Wiktoria Telecka contributed 13 kills, four digs and a service ace. Addison Phillippe distributed 37 assists and recorded a match-high four service aces.
Khalia Horta led the Mighty Banyans with 18 digs. Katelyn Pulver and Cecilia Soragna each registered two solo blocks, while Soragna added two block assists.
THE TURNING POINT
NCF battled back from a 2-0 deficit by winning consecutive sets, holding St. Thomas below a .100 hitting percentage in both frames.
The deciding set included eight ties, but the Bobcats produced their strongest offensive performance of the match with 10 kills and a .381 hitting percentage to secure the 15-13 victory.
BY THE NUMBERS
2-0
The deficit NCF erased to force a fifth set.
29
Total ties throughout the five-set match.
9
Service aces recorded by the Mighty Banyans.
9.0
NCF's team block total.
18
Team-high digs collected by Horta.
MATCH STAT LEADERS
Kills: Soraya Nacero - 17
Assists: Addison Phillippe - 37
Digs: Khalia Horta - 18
Service Aces: Addison Phillippe - 4
Total Blocks: Cecilia Soragna - 4.0
Total Points: Soraya Nacero and Madison Goin - 17.0
UP NEXT: NCF travels to face Warner University on Wednesday.
