Volleyball team plays well in loss to Hillsborough

The Eastern Florida State College women's volleyball team fought for every point Tuesday night, falling to No. 14 Hillsborough Community College in four sets at Titan Field House.

The Titans came out swinging, winning the first set 25-13 but Hillsborough CC came back to tie the match with a 25-15 win. The third and fourth set was a battle back and forth, with Hillsborough winning 28-26 and 27-25.

Down 6-3 in the first set, the Titans came storming back as Maria Cordova served a couple of aces to tie the match and then Rylie Patrick scored seven straight points to put Eastern Florida State College up 15-8. But they were not done as Janleen De Jesus was next up and also served seven straight points including an ace to put the Titans up 23-10. From there the Titans would wrap up the first set 25-13.

The Titans could not keep the momentum in the second set as Hillsborough would roll 25-15 to tie the match 1-1. 

Another ace by Cordova gave the Titans a 9-3 lead in the third set and Eastern Florida State College would continue to hold the lead throughout the set but leading 24-21 the Hawks would find a way to tie the match 24-24. Kills by Rylie Patrick and Rosmarie Rivera would once again give the Titans a chance to win at 26-25, however it was Hillsboroough who came up with the big points and the victory.

The fourth set opened with De Jesus once again setting well, recording a couple of aces to give the Titans a 4-0 lead. Hillsborough would begin chipping away at the lead and tied it 10-10. From there, the two teams would trade points throughout the set with the match tied 20-20, 24-24 and 25-25. Once again it was Hillsborough who came up big, handing the Titans another tough loss Tuesday night.

The Titans (4-10, 2-8) will travel to Polk State College Thursday night for a key Suncoast Conference match at 6 p.m. before hosting the State College of Florida-Manatee on Saturday afternoon at Titan Field House.