FT. LAUDERDALE, FLA. – The Saint Leo volleyball team opened up the season with a 2-0 day at the 10th Annual Nova Southeastern Shark Invitational on Friday, taking a 3-0 win over Lenoir-Rhyne, 25-21, 25-15, 25-15, to open up the day before taking down Tusculum 3-0 to close out the day, 25-21, 25-14, 25-22.
 
Saint Leo opened up the first match of the day slow but turned it on to shut down the Bears in three straight sets. The Lions saw freshman Ashley Quero led the way in the first set with six kills where Anna Garrett racked up 14 assists. Jenya Kruglova and Reggie Van Devender tied for lead in set one for digs.
 
Quero finished her first match in the Green and Gold with 15 kills and seven digs where Garrett tallied 31 total assists, adding 17 in the final two sets. Kruglova led the Lions over the Bears with 15 digs where Van Devender was close behind finishing in double-digits with 11. The Lions' two middles Dallas Jasper and Annabella Arcari each picked up seven and six kills, respecitvely. 
 
Saint Leo hit .239, .147 and .306 in the three sets, respectively, to finish the match with a .233 clip. The Lions recorded 44 team kills, 42 assists and 69 digs edging Lenoir-Rhyne in all three categories, 25, 24, and 48, respectively. The Lions other freshman, Brooke Turner, went 3-for-3 for a 1.000 hitting percentage in her first career match.
 
In the second match of the day, Saint Leo took down the Pioneers in three straight sets after a slow start and a tough third set. The Lions took set one 25-21, but made quick work in the second set of Tusculum 25-14.
 
The Pioneers came out fighting in the third holding an early lead, but the Lions patience and desire to win pushed the momentum in the Green and Gold's favor and saw Saint Leo sweep Tusculum 3-0 with a 25-22 final set.
 
Nina Vattovaz was the Lions leader offensively putting down 17 kills on a .406 clip where Garrett racked up an additional 36 assists on the day. Kruglova took over defensively in the final match Friday with 20 digs where Vattovaz and Van Devender added seven apiece. Vattovaz, Garrett and Kruglova's numbers were all match-highs. Victoria Omoregie and Dallas Jasper added seven kills where Annabella Arcari put down five. 
 
On the day, Saint Leo rode their outsides as Nina Vattovaz led the team with 25 kills on the first day of action and Ashley Quero added 24. Jenya Kruglova cleaned the floor with led the team with 35 total digs on the day. Reggie Van Devender was second to Kruglova with 18 digs. Three other Lions finished the day with double-digit kills in Dallas Jasper, 14, and Victoria Omoregie and Annabella Arcari each with 11. 
 
The Lions return to action for the second day of the Nova Southeastern Shark Invitational, as they take on Post at 11:30 a.m., and No. 7 Minnesota Duluth at 4:30 p.m.
 
For the latest news, updates, and information on the Saint Leo volleyball, be sure to 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.