Trojans Grab Sweep and Third Straight Win

Saturday, September 29

Troy, Ala.

5:00 p.m.

Troy University

Florida Atlantic

Photo by: Tyler Myers

9/29/2012 6:53:00 PM | Volleyball

By: Matt Mays

Box Score

TROY, Ala. – The Troy volleyball team picked up its third straight win on Saturday as the Trojans swept Florida Atlantic at Sartain Hall, 3-0 (25-16, 25-22, 25-22). The win moves the Trojans to 3-1 at Sartain Hall this season.

Troy (12-7, 3-1) was led by Kayla Pickart who recorded 17 kills and just four errors for a .342 attack percentage. Blair Winston posted 14 kills and hit .345 as the Trojans hit .295 as a team. Alexandra Alexander recorded 37 assists.

“We were focused tonight and player really well,” Troy head coach Sonny Kirkpatrick said. “FAU forced us to earn every point, and that's when you find out what your team is made of. We played well in the first set, but we knew it was going to be a fight to finish them.”

The Trojans held Florida Atlantic (4-10, 0-4) to a .205 attack percentage as Courtney Cohen led all players with 16 digs. Troy posted 9.0 total team blocks led by four each from Devin Von Pingel and Breanna Cullity.

The Owls were led by Alessia Pizzocheri who had 10 kills while Jelena Jovanovic posted 36 assists.

The Trojans outside hitters dominated the first set as Winston and Pickart combined for 13 kills and just one error as Troy opened a close game at 13-12 with a four-point run to take a 17-12 lead. Troy upped the lead to as many as nine as they won the opener 25-16.

Troy hit .485 in the opening frame thanks to 17 kills and just one error and followed the effort with a .211 attack percentage in the second set, which was a close one. The two sides found themselves tied 14 times in the second set, including as late as 20-20.

Troy then went on a three-point run that started on a Von Pingel service ace to take a 23-20 lead. The Trojans went on to take the second set, 25-22.

Florida Atlantic had their best effort in the third set as they hit .225 as a team and got in the set late after Troy led 17-13. The Owls cut it to one at 19-18 before tying the score at 22-22, but like the second set, a three-point Troy run ended it as the Trojans took the clinching set 25-22.

“Overall we're pleased with where we are,” Kirkpatrick said. “But we need to continue to get better for next weekend, Arkansas State and UALR are two really good teams.”

The Trojans return to the court next weekend as they travel to take on Arkansas State on Friday and UALR on Saturday.

For more information on Troy Athletics, be sure to visit www.TroyTrojans.com. Fans can also find Troy on Twitter at @TroyAthletics or on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/TroyAthletics.