TAMPA, Fla. – The Saint Leo volleyball team became just the fourth Sunshine State Conference school to earn a set victory over No. 8 Tampa this season who improved to 11-0 in league play in its 3-1 defeat of the Lions. Saint Leo played close in the opening three sets of the match including winning the second set 25-22 over the Spartans.
 
Saint Leo (9-10, 6-5 SSC) jumped out to an early lead over the Spartans (18-1, 11-0 SSC) in the opening set of the match but a 7-2 rally by the Spartans late in the period gave them a 22-19 advantage. Saint Leo kept the set close the rest of the way but the Spartans hung on for a 25-23 victory.
 
The second set began much like the first with the Lions jumping out to an early lead thanks to a pair of kills by sophomore Ashley Quero, a kill from junior Anilise Fitzi and a kill from freshman setter Cassandra Kamien. The Spartans used a 4-0 run moments later to take an 8-7 advantage of their own. The action would continue to go back-and-forth until a 6-0 run by the Lions swung the set back in the Lions favor. A kill by Ashley Quero eventually ended the set giving Saint Leo a 25-22 win.
 
It was more of the same in the third set with the Lions taking the early 4-2 lead but the Spartans responded once again and took a two to three-point lead for the rest of the set. With Saint Leo trailing 17-16, the Spartans rattled off five-straight points to take control of the period and they eventually took the set 25-20.
 
The fourth set was all Tampa as the Spartans controlled play after opening the period on a 9-2 run. Tampa would maintain a strong advantage the rest of the way in route to a 25-14 fourth set victory.
 
Quero led the Saint Leo attack as she had 17 kills and seven digs in the match. Junior Victoria Omoregie added 13 kills on 24 swings while compiling a .500 hitting percentage. The third Lion in double-figures was junior Annabella Arcari who finished with 12 kills.
 
Kamien dished out 43 assists, had a team-high 15 digs and put down four kills. Senior libero Reggie Van Devender finished with 14 digs in the match as well.
 
The Spartans had three hitters reach double-figures led by Sorrel Houghton's 17 kills.    
 
Saint Leo will return to the friendly confines of the Marion Bowman Activities Center Friday, October 12 as the Lions host Lynn for a 7 p.m. match. The Lions defeated the Fighting Knights 3-1 earlier this season in Boca Raton.  
 
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.