Sports: Spartan shorts

Spartan shorts

By ROD GIPSON

TAMPA -- After leading the Spartans to a pair of victories, including a win over 20th-ranked Northern Kentucky, junior middle hitter Tiffany Boatwright was named Sunshine State Conference Volleyball Player of the Week.

Boatwright posted 25 kills in 43 attempts in two matches last week. She also had six blocks and just four errors as UT beat Valdosta State 30-14, 30-23, 30-20 and Northern Kentucky 30-14, 30-23, 30-20. The win over Northern Kentucky was the Spartans' first this year against a ranked opponent.

Boatwright leads UT with 63 kills, 15 more than Ania Ruiz. Boatwright also is the team leader with 20 blocks (10 solo, 10 assisted) and is averaging 1.33 blocks per game.

She now has led Tampa in kills in four of five matches while also leading the Spartans in attack percentage four times. She had a .563 attack percentage against Northern Kentucky.

MEN'S SOCCER: UT remained unbeaten with a 5-0 win over Webber on Wednesday. The Spartans (3-0-1) continue to enjoy their seven-game homestand. Their only non-win has been a 2-2 tie against Southern Connecticut State.

In trouncing Webber, the Spartans got goals from Chris Mitchell, Jeff Foxenberger, Roy Fink, Mario Lara and Pierre Laurent. Goalkeepers Roy Swarts and Nick Iliff combined for the shutout.

After hosting St. Thomas at 7 p.m. Saturday at Pepin-Rood Field, UT wraps up its homestand with West Florida (Sept. 14) and Montevallo (Ala.) Sept. 16.

WOMEN'S SOCCER: The Spartans remain at 1-2 after last weekend's 2-1 loss to Southern Connecticut State. Their bid to even their record was put on hold after Wednesday's match against Webber was postponed due to weather.

In its lost to No. 7 Southern Connecticut State, the Spartans fell behind 2-0 in the first half. It cut the deficit in half in the second half with a goal by Amy Pfitzinger, assisted by Mindy Simmons, in the 57th minute.

But it was all of the offense the Spartans generated. UT plays St. Thomas at 5 p.m. Saturday at Pepin-Rood Field.