TAMPA - Coming off strong finishes to their regular seasons, Tampa's men's and women's cross country teams head to the Sunshine State Conference meet this weekend with plenty at stake.
When the teams line up Saturday on the 8K and 6K courses at the Circle B Bar reserve in Lakeland, the UT men will try to dethrone host Florida Southern, which has captured the past six men's championships. The UT women, however, are in a different position as defending champions.
There are reasons to believe a UT sweep could be in the making.
The men ran solid all season, led by Elias Gonzales. A senior, Gonzales and his teammates finished the season strong. UT placed in the top two as a team in two of its past races, including its win against the rival Moccasins at the Florida Southern Invitational in September.
Gonzales ended the season finishing second, first and first in his last three races. He was named SSC runner of the week four times this season and is a likely candidate to win the individual championship as he did in 2002. Gonzales is backed up by a solid group of runners that includes seniors Nick Kraus and Doane Greenidge and juniors Josh Moore and Eric Hall.
In the women's race, UT is the group to beat.
Four-time SSC runner of the week Allison Macsas leads an outstanding group of Spartans. Macsas, who won two of her past three races, was fifth at the 2002 SSC meethelping UT win and end Florida Southern's string of five straight conference titles. UT's other standout runners are junior Dee Dee Haefling, last season's individual conference champion, and fellow juniors Liz Bragg and Erin Wilson.
VOLLEYBALL: The Spartans bounced back from their loss to conference-rival Barry with wins against Catawba and Armstrong Atlantic.
Senior outside hitter Ania Ruiz played well in those matches, averaging 4.8 kills, 3.2 digs. 0.8 blocks, 0.4 aces and 0.2 assists. She had seven kills and nine digs against Catawba and 17 kills and seven digs against Armstrong Atlantic.
UT (19-3, 6-1 in SSC) hosts Eckerd on Wednesday. The Spartans remain in the national top 10 at No. 9 and maintain the No. 3 slot in the South Region poll.
MEN'S SOCCER: Senior Roy Fink scored a goal and freshman defender Darnell Polidore added a goal and led a defensive effort that allowed just six shots on goal in UT's 3-0 homecoming win against Florida Southern on Oct. 17.
UT improved to 6-5-3, 1-2-2 in the SSC. The Spartans play at Eckerd on Wednesday.
