TAVARES, Fla. – The Saint Leo beach volleyball team opened up play at the 2021 AVCA Small College Beach Championship Friday morning and walked away with a pair of victories. The Lions defeated the University of Tampa's No. 2 squad 3-2 before defeating Wayne State College 5-0. Saint Leo will face Spring Hill College Saturday at noon for the top spot in the pool.
 
The two victories on Friday moved the Lions record to 12-2 on the year, tying the program record for wins in a season which was set in 2019 when the Lions won the Silver Bracket at the AVCA Small College Beach Championship. The 2021 Lions reached 12 wins in 12 fewer matches.
 
Saint Leo began with a tough match against the Spartans. The Lions won at No. 1, No. 2 and No. 4 to clinch the victory. Senior Nina Vattovaz teamed up with junior Arlaina Stephenson at No. 1 as they dispatched the Spartans 21-10, 21-15. Senior Brooke Turner and junior Sydney Omtvedt teamed up at No. 2 and won 21-13, 21-17. Freshmen LeeAnn Potter and Ally-Reese Williams brought home the victory at No. 4 21-17, 21-17.
 
The Green and Gold cruised to a victory in their afternoon match versus Wayne State. Vattovaz and Stephenson won at No. 1; 21-11, 25-23. Turner and Omtvedt won at No. 2; 21-11, 21-12. The two new pairs at the top for the Lions are undefeated since teaming up Vattovaz, who used to team with Turner, and Stephenson, who previously teamed with Omtvedt, are 4-0 this season. Turner and Omtvedt improved to 3-0 on the year.  
 
Williams and Potter once again won at No. 4; 21-15, 21-15 and improved to 4-0 together. Junior Lina Russo and freshman Aliya Fredette-Huffman picked up their third win together at No. 3 as they coasted to a 21-12, 21-17 win. The final Lions point came from sophomore Marissa Rakauskas and freshman Jeanette Henderson at No. 5 who won 21-14, 21-14. Rakauskas and Henderson entered the lineup after sitting out the first match. The duo is now 3-0 on the season.
  
The Lions will return to action tomorrow, April 17 as they close out pool play against Spring Hill College at noon. SHC is also 2-0 in pool play with 5-0 wins over Wayne State and Tampa #2. Following pool play, the Lions will move into bracket play.  
 
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.