TAVARES, Fla. – The Saint Leo beach volleyball team picked up a 5-0 victory Saturday to earn second in their pool and advance to the Silver Bracket at the AVCA Small College Beach Championship. The Lions fell to Texas A&M Kingsville to open up the day before defeating Carson Newman 5-0. The final match of the day was a rematch with Tampa with the Spartans winning 3-0.
 
TAMK took the opening match of the day 4-1 with the Lions lone win coming at No. 4 as freshmen Anilise Fitzi and Payton Bellano won their match 21-15, 23-21. Kingsville took the No. 1 match 21-16, 21-9, the No. 2 match 21-19, 21-19 and No. 3 21-11, 21-12. The No. 5 match was decided 21-11, 23-21.
 
The next match was against Carson Newman out of Tennessee. The Lions jumped all over the Eagles and never looked back. Amber Lake and Nina Vattovaz won at No. 1 21-13, 21-14 followed by Beka Wachob and Brooke Turner at No. 2 who won 21-10, 21-12.
 
Sam Bogdan and Kirsten Kaiser took the No. 3 match 21-19, 21-16 followed by a 21-12, 21-15 victory by Fitzi and Bellano at No. 4. The final win came at No. 5 as Arlaina Stephenson and Annabella Arcari took care of business 21-8, 21-13.
 
The final match of the day pitted the Lions versus the Spartans for the third time this season with the result being the same, a victory for Tampa. UT won at No. 1 21-10, 21-12, No. 2 21-17, 21-17 and No. 3 21-9, 21-13.
 
The Lions will now compete in the Silver Bracket with Florida Southern, Lincoln Memorial and Stevenson. The Lions will take on Stevenson for the second time this weekend at 9 a.m. Sunday with the winner facing the victor between FSC and LMU at noon for the Silver Bracket Championship.
 
For the latest news, updates, and information on the Saint Leo beach 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.