TAMPA, Fla. – The Saint Leo beach volleyball team went 1-1 on Wednesday with a closer than the score indicates 5-0 loss to Tampa and a 4-1 victory over Florida Southern. Two of the five matches versus Tampa went to a third game while the Lions also earned a three-game victory in the No. 6 exhibition match. The Lions won all but the No. 1 match versus the Mocs to earn their sixth victory of the season.
 
The Lions opened against Tampa and the match started with the No. 2, No. 4 and No. 6 teams competing. All three matches went to three games with the previously undefeated No. 2 Lions duo of juniors Arlaina Stephenson and Sydney Omtvedt falling 21-18, 20-22, 15-8. The loss ended a six-match winning streak for the pair. Another previously undefeated pair fell at No. 4 as freshmen Ally-Reese Williams and Aliya Fredette-Huffman put their 2-0 mark on the line. The pair won the opening game 21-16 but the Tampa duo won the next two games 21-10 and 15-9.
 
The Lions lone victory versus Tampa came in the No. 6 exhibition match as freshman Courtney Mamone and redshirt senior Amber Lake teamed up to win in comeback fashion, 18-21, 21-17, 15-11. The Spartans went on to win the match with two-game victories at No. 1, No. 3 and No. 5 but all three matches were very close with the No. 3 match going 21-16, 23-21.
 
Versus the Mocs the No. 1, No. 2 and No. 6 matches went to three games with the Lions winning at No. 2 and No. 6. The Mocs lone victory came at No. 1 as they pulled off a 17-21, 21-18, 15-12 come-from-behind win.
 
Williams and Fredette-Huffman opened things up at No. 4 with a 21-14, 21-16 victory followed by Omtvedt and Stephenson taking the No. 2 match 21-18, 20-22, 15-8. The Lions clinched the match at No. 3 as junior Lina Russo and freshman LeeAnn Potter improved to 5-1 as a team after seeing their four-match win streak halted against the Spartans. The pair won 21-15, 21-15 versus the Mocs. The Lions made it 4-0 with a 21-14, 21-13 win at No. 5 as seniors Amber Lake and Kirsten Kaiser teamed up for the victory.
 
Mamone and junior Morgan Maddox took home the exhibition match at No. 6 after falling in the first game 21-9. The pair won the second game 22-20 before pulling the comeback victory 15-8 in the third.
 
The Lions will return to action this Saturday, April 3 as they travel to Lakeland, Fla. to face both the Mocs of Florida Southern and the Manatees of the State College of Florida. The Lions are a combined 3-0 against the two programs this season.
 
For the latest news, updates, and information on 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.
 
Keeping Our Lions Healthy & Safe
Saint Leo University Athletics is keeping our student-athletes healthy and safe by following a number of measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. This includes having student-athletes tested or screened on a regular basis, traveling in smaller groups, holding competitions without fans in attendance, avoiding overnight trips, and wearing masks when not competing. These safety standards meet those set by the NCAA Division II and the Sunshine State Conference President's Council. At Saint Leo University, the COVID-19 Incident Command Team also reviews the teams' safety protocol and monitors adherence on a regular basis.