NSU Sharks News
#16 NSU Opens Shark Classic With Two Convincing Victories
Sharks Sweep Winona State and Henderson State
FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. (Sept. 4, 2008) - The #16 Nova Southeastern University volleyball opened with two 3-0 victories as hosts of the 4th Annual Shark Classic inside the Arena at the Don Taft University Center in play on Friday. The Sharks defeated Winona State 25-11, 25-14, 25-19 and Henderson State 25-22, 25-21 and 25-14. NSU improved to 4-2 on the season while Winona State fell to 2-3 and Henderson State fell to 1-5.On a night when the athletic department unveiled the 2009 NSU Women's Golf National Championship banner, the Sharks played in front of an active crowd vs. Henderson State. "I enjoyed the atmosphere," said junior outside hitter Lucia Cizmarova (Bratislava, Slovak Republic). "It was really fun to play in. Even though we are not yet at our potential and can play at a higher level, it was nice to get two wins in our own tournament."
The Sharks opened with a 25-22 victory in the first set, hitting .219 as a team. Sophomore middle Molly Sigerich (Downers Grove, Ill.), junior outside hitter Paola Ruiz and senior outside hitter Jenerra McGruder (Euless, Tex.) all tied for the team lead with three kills. Junior libero Kathleen Yony (Miami, Fla.) had seven digs. Henderson State out-hit NSU with a .233 hitting percentage but was saddled with six service errors.
NSU improves its hitting percentage to .268 on the way to their 25-21 second set win. McGruder once again led the way, posting four kills and two digs. Senior setter Valia Petrova (Sofia, Bulgaria) had 11 assists, two kills and two digs.
After the intermission the Sharks jumped all over Henderson State early en route to the 25-14 win. NSU hit .342 as a team and held the Reddies to just .097. Freshman middle blocker Carly Perschnick (Dwight, Ill.) powered her way to five kills in the set while Sigerich, Ruiz and McGruder each had three.
For the match, NSU out-hit Henderson State .279 to .192. The Sharks had 15 more kills, 14 more assists, eight more aces and two more digs. McGruder tallied a team high 10 kills, followed by Sigerich, Ruiz and Perschnick with nine apiece. Petrova finished with 36 assists while Yony posted a match high with 20 digs.
Earlier in the day, the Sharks downed Winona State in three sets. NSU took an early lead in the first set and ran with it. NSU recorded 13 kills without an error for a .500 attack percentage. Perschnick led the charge with five kills and two blocks.
The second set was much the same. NSU hit .387 as a team and held Winona State to a .054 percentage. Perschnick tallied five more kills. Cizmarova had two aces in the set.
Behind the play of sophomore outside hitter Anabely Escarpita (Boca Raton, Fla.) and her five kills, the Sharks won easily in the third set. Freshman setter Jordan Pappas (Naperville, Ill.) recorded seven assists and three digs in the set.
For the match, NSU out-hit Winona State .296 to .019. The Sharks had 13 more kills, 12 more assists, six more aces, six more digs and five more blocks than the Warriors. Nova Southeastern was led by Perschnick with 12 kills and a .647 attack percentage. Ruiz, Cizmarova and Escarpita all had five or more kills. Ruiz also posted a match high 13 digs.
The Sharks continue play in the 4th Annual Shark Classic on Sat, Sept. 5th against Oakland City University and Michigan Tech.
