Team Tampa Bay's Take with Joey Johnston - The Road 2 Tampa Bay is Underway

By Joey Johnston

It was a raucous Friday night crowd at downtown Tampa’s Amalie Arena — 6,627 dancing, foot-stomping fans — that ushered in the NCAA women’s volleyball season.

It was an equally spirited gathering Saturday night at the Yuengling Center — 6,877 fans in all, making it the largest home attendance in USF volleyball history.

The season-opening Road 2 Tampa Bay Volleyball Invitational had something for everyone, along with a preview of the fun that should be ahead in December, when the NCAA Volleyball Final Four returns to Amalie Arena

“More than 13,500 fans filled Amalie Arena and the Yuengling Center to kick off the Road to Tampa Bay in the best way possible,’’ Tampa Bay Sports Commission executive director Rob Higgins said. “We wanted to create an event that would be the ultimate catalyst for what’s going to be a historic season.

“The event not only met, but exceeded our expectations. It has been an 18-month process and journey. It’s a tribute to the vision and leadership of Claire Lessinger (TBSC vice president of events). This was the ultimate launching pad for what’s going to be an incredible time come the middle of December.’’

The No. 11-ranked Florida Gators and the No. 20 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets were the biggest winners, each capturing two match victories.

The Gators set a riveting tone by winning a pair of thrillers. They prevailed in four sets against the No. 8 Penn State Nittany Lions, 18-25, 25-23, 25-17, 26-24, fighting off three set points (and a probable fifth set) with a 5-0 closing run. The Gators were also pushed to five sets while defeating the home-standing USF Bulls, 22-25, 25-18, 22-25, 25-16, 15-8.

Meanwhile, Georgia Tech stunned Penn State in a four-setter 25-21, 20-25, 25-19, 25-16. The Yellow Jackets also swept USF 25-23, 25-12, 25-13.

The coaches and players were unified in their praise of the TBSC, which teamed with USF to host the event.

“I think that all four teams felt honored and privileged to be in this event,’’ Gators coach Mary Wise said. “And what a great job that the Tampa Bay Sports Commission has done in making this look and feel like such a special and big-time event. I think it's a peek into what the sport of collegiate women's volleyball has in store.

“Come December, I think that this venue and this city has a chance to do something really special for women's volleyball. And it's kind of cool to be able to have it right here in our state.’’

That sentiment was echoed by Georgia Tech coach Michelle Collier.

“The whole experience was awesome,’’ Collier said. “Great crowds. The event was run at a top level. We’ve been treated at the highest level, from the moment of the first text message from Claire (Lessinger) right through our final match.

“Yes, of course we would love to come back to Tampa (to play in the Final Four). We have a lot of season left, but I think starting out like we did, it shows that Georgia Tech isn’t a fluke. We’re here to stay. It was thrilling to begin the season like this.’’

The Florida-Penn State match provided the biggest thrills of all.

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“What we learned about our team was how unselfish it is, how much they trust each other, how much they trust in the process,’’ Wise said. “Even though there were rough moments at the start, there was a great connectedness to this group.’’

Down three set points in the fourth — and fighting off Penn State’s growing momentum — Gators libero Ellie McKissock said there were never any doubts.

“I think it’s all the hard work we put in during the summer,’’ McKissock said. “We worked so hard to be here. To win it like this, was such a great feeling. We have a lot of love for each other and we stuck together. You can’t hold each other accountable if you don’t have that kind of love. So the whole thing was really fun.’’

Penn State coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley, whose team is 0-2 for the first time in the program’s 48-season history, was lamenting her team’s missed opportunities.

“I thought Florida competed hard, but we had our chances and we needed to find a way to win it,’’ Schumacher-Cawley said. “It’s a game of errors, for sure. But when you’re that close (to winning the fourth set), you’ve got to finish it.’’

The finishing touch also was elusive for USF in its five-set defeat against the Gators. The Bulls won the opening set 25-22 — the first time for USF to take a set off the Gators since 2009 — and captured the third set by another 25-22 score. Then momentum swung back to Florida, which is 18-0 against USF under Wise.

Challenging the perennial powerhouse Gators — while drawing a record home crowd to witness the entertaining match — represented a few major steps forward for USF’s program.

“It was great volleyball and it was a fabulous environment,’’ USF coach Jolene Shepardson said. “I’m really grateful to the Tampa Bay Sports Commission and everyone who worked so hard to put on this event. I think we showed what we are capable of and we hope to build on this. I’m just ecstatic with the way it showcased our sport and how it turned out.’’

The Road 2 Tampa Bay Volleyball Invitational All-Tournament Team included Florida’s Anna Dixon, USF’s Buse Hazan, Florida’s Kennedy Martin, Georgia Tech’s Larissa Mendes, Georgia Tech’s Liv Mogridge and Penn State’s Taylor Trammell.

USF freshman Lia Schneider was selected as the Most Outstanding Libero.