TAMPA, Fla. – In a hard-fought battle, the Saint Leo University volleyball team fell in five sets to Valdosta State University in the NCAA Division II South Region quarterfinal match, Thursday evening.
The Lions conclude their season 19-14 while the Blazers advance with a 25-7 record.
Saint Leo's offense provided a balanced attack, as five players posted double-digit kills. Seniors Tawni Warren and Alexa Griffith-Hardy led the charge as the duo blasted 15 kills each. Junior Jillian Stolzenburg swung at a torrid .389 attack percentage, planting 11 kills in the thriller.
Outside hitters Hope Lemon and Lauren Campbell grounded 11 kills apiece. Each posted a double-double performance, as Campbell picked up her career 1000th dig in her final match as a Lion. The senior is one of few players in school history to conclude her career with over 1000 kills and 1000 digs. Lemon tallied 10 digs to add on defense.
The setting corps of Rachel Olliff and Ashlee Hodgskin tuned the Lions to a .256 attack percentage, spinning 31 and 29 assists, respectively.
Defensively, libero Yaidimar Santiago posted 24 digs to set the new single season dig mark to 689 digs.
VSU turned to Lea Jaklen, as the outside hitter nailed a barrage of five kills to lead the Blazers to a 25-21 first set win. The back-and-forth opening stanza saw 11 tied scores and eight lead changes before Valdosta claimed the set. Lemon notched three kills for the Lions as freshman Sheeley hit 2-for-2 in the premier frame.
Junior Stolzenburg unloaded six kills in the second set as Saint Leo rebounded to even the match at 1-1. The Lions took the set by a familiar 25-21 score as the team hit a scorching .333 to bounce back. Right side Griffith-Hardy bounced three kills in five swings as the setting tandem of Rachel Olliff and Ashlee Hodgskin tuned the Green and Gold offense to a torrid team hitting clip.
The showdown continued, as the Blazers took the third set 25-23 to earn a match advantage. Setter Codato notched four kills for VSU. Lions outside hitter Lemon mirrored with a four-kill showing to her credit while Santiago posted eight digs to slow the Valdosta attack.
Saint Leo jumped to an early lead as the Lions forced a pair of early timeouts on route to a 25-19 victory to even the match. Campbell and Griffith-Hardy each grounded four kills in the frame while Warren hit 3-for-5.
In a dramatic finish to the quarterfinal match, Valdosta State took a 15-12 final set to advance while the Lions conclude their season.
For the latest news, updates, and information on the Saint Leo volleyball team, visit SaintLeoLions.com. Fans can also stay up-to-date on the latest Lions news by following Saint Leo Athletics on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
