LAKELAND, Fla. -- The Saint Leo University volleyball team lost its first match of the FSC/Terrace Hotel Volleyball Classic to Central Oklahoma 3-0 Friday morning. The Bronchos defense proved impenetrable thanks to nine blocks and 64 digs as a team. 

The Basics
Final Score: Central Oklahoma defeated Saint Leo 3-0 (25-18, 25-18, 25-21).  
Location: Jenkins Field House, Lakeland, Fla. 
Records: Saint Leo 3-2 | UCO 6-0
FSC/Terrace Hotel Volleyball Classic  

How It Happened

• Central Oklahmoa continued its perfect season thanks to tough defense that wouldn't allow a Saint Leo ball to fall. The Bronchos knocked down nine blocks (3.0 per set) and picked up 64 digs (21.3 per set).
• Set 1 | Central Oklahoma flew to an early 10-5 lead and maintained a five-point buffer throughout the match. The Bronchos collected four blocks in the first frame.
• Set 2 | The Lions bounced back after the first set and jumped to an early 3-0 lead. A kill by Barbara Jackson paused Saint Leo's run and Central Oklahoma tied the match at 3-3. Saint Leo would throw together two points thanks to back-to-back kills from Anna Siruckova and Hope Lemon, but the Bronchos wouldn't allow more than a two-point run and never trailed after taking an 11-10 lead. The Bronchos closed out the set in similar fashion with a 25-18 win.
• Set 3 | Saint Leo picked up its defense in the third set, and held the Bronchos to a mach low .205 attack percentage. Saint Leo trailed by as many as nine, but Reggie Van Devender subbed in and sparked a three point run at the end of the set to bring the Lions back within five points at 20-15. The Lions were never able to string together more than the three-point run and lost the third and final set 25-21. 
• Lemon led the Lions with 12 kills and six digs. Siruckova collected eight kills and a team best .274 attack percentage. Britt Sederholm and Jill Stolzenburg each added seven kills. 
• Ashlee Hodgskin dished out 34 assists and Jamie Townsend notched 16 digs. 

Beyond the Boxscore

• Lemon has now had five consecutive double-digit kill performances. Lemon also served an ace, marking her fourth consecutive match recording an ace. 
• Hodgskin notched her fifth straight 30+ assist match. The senior averaged 11.33 assists per set, her second best performance of the season. In the Lions 3-0 sweep of Missouri St. Louis (9/4) Hodgskin average 13.00 assists per set. 
• Townsend has now recorded five straight double-digit dig performances. 

For the Bronchos

• Senior Whitney Gifford led the match with 26 digs, accounting for nearly half of the teams 64 digs. 
• Rightside Barbara Jackson collected a match best 18 kills (6.0 kills per set) and accounted for 19 UCO points. The senior hit .381 (18-2-42) and added six digs and two blocks. 
• Katy Davis dished out 39 assists, and led the Bronco offense to a .316 team attack percentage. The Junior also added one service ace. 

Up Next

• The Lions will play in its second match of the day in Jenkins Field House at 3:30 pm.
• Saint Leo will battle its third ranked opponent of 2015 in a face-off against #24 West Texas A&M. The Lions are 1-1 against top-25 teams. 
• The Lions will finally return to the friendly confines of Marion Bowman September 15, when they host defending national champion, no. 1 Tampa. 

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.