BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern Sharks Volleyball team split a doubleheader on Saturday, dropping the first contest of the day to Rockhurst in three-sets, before winning a highly competitive five-set match against Wheeling. 
Scores – (Game One) Nova Southeastern 0, Rockhurst 3 | (Game Two) Nova Southeastern 3, Wheeling 2
Records – Nova Southeastern 4-2, Rockhurst 5-1, Wheeling 2-4
Location – (Game One) Rubin Arena, West Palm Beach, Fla. | de Hoernle Sports & Cultural Center, Boca Raton, Fla.
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Game One
- Nova Southeastern fell to Rockhurst in three-sets, 25-17, 25-23, 25-22
- Taylor Stockman led the way for Nova Southeastern, as the sophomore recorded 10 kills.
- Gabrielle Spankus orchestrated the NSU offense, leading the team with 23 assists.
Game Two
- The Sharks received contributions from Kate Mihacevich, Taylor Stockman, Nadia Lindner and Jordan Chessar in the early stages of the match, as Nova Southeastern led 5-3.
- Gabrielle Spankus gave NSU a 12-9 advantage with a service ace.
- Wheeling had a pair of four-point rallies in the set, including a run that gave the Cardinals a 21-20 lead.
- The Sharks dropped the opening set 25-23.
- Lindner led an early run for Nova Southeastern in the second set, recording back-to-back kills, and giving the Sharks a 4-1 lead.
- Both teams traded points back-and-forth, but a pair of kills from Mihacevich and Stockman reclaimed the lead for NSU at 13-12.
- Lindner sparked another 4-0 rally for the Sharks, as Stockman and Varshini Panuganti each scored points, giving Nova Southeastern a 17-14 advantage.
- Julia Bernardes capped off a 6-1 run for the Sharks, as NSU tied the match at 1-1, with a 25-19 second set win.
- Nyah Pacely recorded three consecutive services aces to open the third set, giving the Sharks a 5-0 lead over Wheeling.
- Wheeling rallied to take a 15-12 lead, but Lindner and Olivia Aniol halted the Cardinals momentum and tied the set at 15-15.
- The Cardinals later recorded five consecutive points, putting the Sharks down 20-15 and later clinched the third set 25-19.
- In the fourth set, Nova Southeastern once again got off on an early run, taking a 4-0 lead following kills from Aniol, Stockman and Lindner.
- Wheeling went on a 6-1 run, taking a 16-13 lead, but the Sharks continued the battle and tied the set at 18-18.
- Trailing 24-23 and facing match point, Stockman and Mihacevich recorded three consecutive points for Nova Southeastern, tying the match at 2-2 with a 26-24 fourth set win.
- In the decisive fifth set, with NSU trailing 4-1, Mihacevich and Stockman once again teamed up to spark a three-point rally, tying the frame at 4-4.
- Bernardes and Mihacevich later extended the Nova Southeastern lead to 9-6.
- Lindner, Mihacevich and Stockman recorded the final three kills for NSU, sealing a comeback win in five sets, as the Sharks won the final frame 15-10.
Nova Southeastern begins Sunshine State Conference play on Friday, September 15th, taking on Lynn from the Rick Case Arena. First serve is set for 7 p.m.
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