Nova Southeastern Box Score
Palm Beach Atlantic Box Score
Season Statistics

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - No 16 Washburn finished the Nova Southeastern Sharks Classic 4-0 after picking up a pair of wins Saturday in the season-opening tournament. The Lady Blues defeated the host school, 3-0 (30-16, 30-14, 30-27) and then beat Palm Beach Atlantic, 3-0 (30-18, 30-23, 30-22).

Junior Stephanie Nitz led the Lady Blues in the opener with 13 kills and then sophomore Ashley Shepard had 10 kills in the second match.

Washburn will next be in action Tuesday at Newman in a 7 p.m. match.

Against Nova Southeastern the Lady Blues staked an early lead on a 5-0 run in game one to go up 11-3. The Sharks pulled within three points at 17-14 but then Washburn ended the match on 10-1 run for the 30-16 win. The Lady Blues won easily in game two and then the Sharks gave Washburn a test in game two, tying the score at 20-20 and 25-25. They took the lead at 26-25 but the Lady Blues scored five of the final seven points to clinch the win.

Nitz hit .522 with 13 kills and one error while junior Tessa Jones had 11 kills and 11 digs for a double-double. Juniors Erica Cowhick and Monica Miesner also reached double figures in digs with Cowhick leading the team with 15. Sophomore Kate Hampson had 42 assists in leading the offense and on defense Jones and senior Mandi Cox led with five blocks each.

Washburn hit .331 as a team while the Sharks were held to a .057 effort. The Lady Blues hit .395 in the opener while NSU had a .000 attack percentage. In the second game WU hit .400 while the Sharks had a negative percentage.

In the tournament finale against Palm Beach Atlantic Shepard hit .474 with 10 kills and one error in 19 attempts. Cox added eight kills and four service aces while Cowhick led the team with 24 digs. Sophomore Joanna Alfers nearly reached double figures with nine kills.