SAINT LEO, Fla. – The Saint Leo University volleyball team jumped out to a great start Tuesday night at home inside the Marion Bowman Activities Center but it was the Tritons of Eckerd College who took away the 3-1 victory in the first meeting between the two teams in 2019. The Lions won the opening set 25-21 before dropping the final three (25-21, 25-15, 25-21).
 
The Lions struggled to get rolling offensively after the opening set and managed just two attackers in double-figures and fell 17 kills behind the Tritons at the final whistle. Juniors Ashley Quero and Michelle Cuervo led the way for the Lions with 12 and 11 kills, respectively. Quero posted a double-double as she had 11 digs as well.
 
The loss drops the Lions' record to 9-4 on the year and 3-2 in Sunshine State Conference play. The Tritons improved to 10-3 and are tied with the Lions at 3-2 in the league.
 
Redshirt junior Anna Garrett picked up another double-double with 36 assists and 18 digs while sophomore libero Payton Bellano had a team-best 19 digs defensively. The Lions topped the Tritons in blocks (10-9) with senior Anilise Fitzi leading the way with six total blocks including two solo stops. Senior Victoria Omoregie added five block assists as well.
 
The Tritons had four attackers reach double-figures with Asya Harris leading the way at 14. The win for Eckerd snapped a five-match losing streak in the series for the Tritons.
 
The opening set was a back-and-forth affair with the Tritons leading early before the Lions took a six-point lead midway through the period. The two teams were tied late when a 4-0 run from the Lions gave Saint Leo a 25-21 victory.
 
The second set was close early on but with the score tied at 13 the Tritons went on a 3-0 run to open up a small gap. Eckerd would maintain its small advantage the rest of the period as the Lions never came closer than a two-point deficit the rest of the set.
 
The third set was the most lopsided of the night as the Tritons opened on a 6-1 run and never looked back. The fourth looked to be similar to the third but the Lions put up a fight late but it was not enough as Eckerd won the final stanza 25-21.
 
Saint Leo will return to action this Friday, Sept. 4 at 7 p.m. as the Lions host the 11-1 Lynn Fighting Knights for another Sunshine State Conference match.    
 
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.