Lions Close out Regular Season with 3-1 Win over Florida Tech

SAINT LEO, Fla. – in their final match of the regular season, the Saint Leo volleyball team closed out the Marion Bowman Activities Center in style as the Lions posted a 3-1 (25-16, 25-17, 24-26, 25-16) win over Florida Tech in Sunshine State Conference action on Senior Day Saturday.Box Score

Firmly in control of the match for all but the third set, one where head coach Sam Cibrone tweaked the lineup, the Lions held Florida Tech (10-21, 1-15 SSC) to a .058 attack average for the match, mainly bolstered by that third frame.  Each of the three sets where the Lions were the victors, saw the visiting Panthers hit .056, .034 and -.024 respectively.

Needing the win to stay alive in the hunt for the NCAA tournament, the Lions picked up impressive efforts from their senior class, with both Kaitlin McKenna and Bruna Rocha closing out their collegiate careers tops on the charts with 11 kills.  Rocha also added a team-high 21 digs to her outstanding effort.  Not letting Rocha get all the attention,

McKenna was her usual defensive presence at the net, assisting on six blocks as she teamed with Leah Perry, who also had six block assists to go along with a solo, and the rest of the Lions who out-blocked the visitors from Melbourne, Fla. 14-to-6.

Perry also went out in style, adding seven kills and four assists to her blocking totals.

The Lions' fourth senior, Kim Nuckols, came off the bench to contribute in all four sets, adding four kills and two dominating solo blocks to the victory.

Junior Celeste Bonter, closing out her junior season for the Lions, added 14 digs and eight kills to the Saint Leo (15-14, 9-7 SSC) total, while her counterpart, Danielle Bletso added five kills and three total blocks.

Jaclyn Mailoto added 23 assists in the win.