BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern Sharks Volleyball season ended in heartbreaking fashion, as NSU was defeated in five-sets by the Barry Buccaneers in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday afternoon from the de Hoernle Sports & Cultural Center.
Records: Nova Southeastern 20-11 | Barry 24-4
Score: Nova Southeastern 2 | Barry 3
Location: de Hoernle Sports & Cultural Center | Boca Raton, Fla.
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- The third meeting between the Sharks and Buccaneers on the season continued the back-and-forth trend, as the Sunshine State Conference foes traded points back and forth to begin the match.
- A service error by Barry sparked a 4-0 run by NSU, capped by kills from Taylor Stockman and Brittany Landrum, giving Nova Southeastern a 9-4 advantage.
- Following a kill by Kate Mihacevich, Elizabeth Price tallied two consecutive points for NSU, extending the lead to 12-5, as the Sharks took full control of the opening frame.
- The Buccaneers rallied for an 8-2 run but the score at 21-20, but their surge was quieted after a service error and a kill from Price.
- Mihacevich sealed the 25-22 opening set win for NSU with a kill, as the Sharks took the first set over the Buccaneers for the first time on the season.
- Barry rushed out to an 11-4 lead early in the second set, but Landrum spearheaded a 7-1 rally for NSU, putting the score at 12-11.
- Nova Southeastern continued to make a run against the Buccaneers as a kill by Olivia Aniol and a service ace by Taylor Stockman gave the Sharks a 14-13 lead midway through the set.
- Trailing Barry 20-18 late in the set, Landrum started a 5-0 run for NSU, which also featured three consecutive service aces from Mihacevich, giving the Sharks a 23-20 lead.
- Aniol gave Nova Southeastern a 2-0 lead in the match with a kill, sealing the second set by a score of 25-22.
- In the third set, Landrum, Stockman and Mihacevich all recorded kills, tying the frame at 6-6.
- Nova Southeastern and Barry traded points, as the score sat tied at 13-13.
- The Buccaneers took the third set 25-17 over the Sharks.
- Early in the fourth set, Barry took a 12-8 lead over NSU.
- The Sharks continued to battle their way back throughout the frame, but were unable to take the lead, dropping the set 25-22.
- As to be expected for a Sharks and Buccaneers match, the contest went the distance.
- Barry quickly took a 7-2 lead over NSU but points from Price and Aniol, followed by a Buccaneers error, put the score a 7-5.
- The Buccaneers closed out the match with a 15-8 fifth set win.
Head Coach Kacie Ehinger – I’m really proud of the way we played. We came out really loose and started out well. We know we can play with anyone in our conference on any given night. This team is going to fight hard and our seniors have been through a lot throughout their careers. Our group of seniors – Brittany Landrum, Elizabeth Price, Jordan Chessar, and Kate Mihacevich – are one of my favorite group of seniors I’ve had the chance to coach. They are all terrific leaders, I feel like they’re a great group of people who will make a difference in the world and I’m so proud to be their coach.”
Nova Southeastern Volleyball won 20 games for the second straight season, advancing to the NCAA Tournament for the fourth consecutive year. Sharks Volleyball thanks Brittany Landrum (the program’s all-time leader in blocks), Elizabeth Price, Jordan Chessar and Kate Mihacevich for their contributions and lasting legacy they have left on the program.
The NSU Sharks Volleyball season has come to its conclusion. Nova Southeastern will return to competition in the fall of 2025. To stay up-to-date on Sharks Volleyball throughout the offseason, be sure to follow on Instagram at NSU_VBall and NSU_VB.
