BRADENTON, Fla. - New College of Florida Volleyball rallied from a two-set deficit to defeat Florida College 3-2 on Monday night.
After dropping the first two sets by a combined four points, the Mighty Banyans controlled the next two frames before securing the comeback victory in the deciding set. NCF prevailed 26-28, 24-26, 25-14, 25-10, 15-11.
NCF improved to 16-7 overall with the nonconference victory, while Florida College moved to 21-8.
HOW IT HAPPENED
NCF recorded 17 kills and hit .286 in the opening set. The teams traded the lead twice before Florida College escaped with a 28-26 victory.
The second set featured 12 ties and six lead changes. The Falcons produced 20 kills and held on for a 26-24 victory to take a 2-0 advantage.
Facing defeat, the Mighty Banyans responded with their strongest offensive set of the night. NCF recorded 14 kills with only two attacking errors to hit .414, pulling away for a 25-14 victory.
NCF continued to control the match in the fourth set, holding Florida College to four kills and a -.172 hitting percentage. The Mighty Banyans won 25-10 to force a deciding frame.
The fifth set included three ties and two lead changes. NCF limited the Falcons to a .088 hitting percentage and completed the comeback with a 15-11 victory.
Wiktoria Telecka led the Mighty Banyans with 24 kills while hitting .413. She added two solo blocks to finish with a match-high 26 points.
Freshman Stephanie Harrison recorded 12 kills with only one attacking error, finishing with a .407 hitting percentage and a match-high three solo blocks. Soraya Nacero added nine kills and 20 digs, while Madison Goin contributed eight kills.
Cecilia Soragna registered seven kills on a .417 hitting percentage while adding 14 digs and two solo blocks. Addison Phillippe distributed 32 assists, and Valentina Bozzato added 23.
Khalia Horta matched Nacero for the team lead with 20 digs. Danica Bowden collected 10 digs, while Phillippe and Harrison each added eight.
THE TURNING POINT
After losing the first two sets by a combined four points, NCF dominated the third and fourth frames to extend the match.
The Mighty Banyans hit .383 across the two sets while holding Florida College to a -.045 hitting percentage. NCF outscored the Falcons 50-24 during the stretch before completing the comeback in the fifth set.
BY THE NUMBERS
.301
NCF's hitting percentage for the match.
65
Kills recorded by the Mighty Banyans.
96
NCF's team dig total.
9.0
Solo blocks recorded by the Mighty Banyans.
15
Attacking errors committed by NCF across five sets.
MATCH STAT LEADERS
Kills: Wiktoria Telecka - 24
Assists: Addison Phillippe - 32
Digs: Soraya Nacero and Khalia Horta - 20
Service Aces: Soraya Nacero, Valentina Bozzato, Addison Phillippe and Khalia Horta - 1
Total Blocks: Stephanie Harrison - 3.0
Total Points: Wiktoria Telecka - 26.0
UP NEXT: NCF hosts Webber International for Senior Night on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the NCF Fieldhouse as the Mighty Banyans continue the final week of the regular season.
