VALDOSTA, Ga. – The Saint Leo volleyball team picked up a pair of 3-0 victories to open play at the 2021 VSU Fall Tournament hosted by Valdosta State. The Green and Gold opened with a morning sweep of UNC Pembroke out of the Conference Carolinas before downing Albany State out of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in straight sets. Senior Ashley Quero once again led the way in kills with 18 over the two matches leading a group of four Lions in double-figures.
 
The Lions improved to 3-3 on the year while the Braves fell to 4-4 with losses to the Lions and the Tritons of Eckerd. Albany State fell to 1-3 after a pair of losses.
 
In the win over the Braves from UNCP the Lions hit .283 as a team and put down five service aces. The Braves posted a .137 attack percentage while putting down seven aces.
 
Senior Brooke Turner paced the Lions offense with 14 kills off of 32 swings. She added a solo block and four digs to her effort. Quero joined Turner in double-figures with 11 kills on just 22 attempts while posting an impressive .409 attack percentage. She also added seven digs on the defensive side of the ball.
 
Senior Anna Garrett had the offense rolling, dishing out 33 assists while earning four digs and a block. Senior libero Payton Bellano dug up a team-best 13 balls.
 
The Lions won three close sets at 25-21, 25-20 and 25-23.
 
Saint Leo cruised past the Golden Rams in the second match of the day while posting a .275 hitting percentage and putting down nine service aces. The Lions also picked up six blocks as a team. The Golden Rams were held to a .068 hitting percentage while putting up six blocks and four service aces.
 
Junior Ally-Reese Williams led the Lion attack with 10 kills while adding three digs and a block. Quero and junior transfer Elizabeth Sandoval each picked up seven kills in the victory. Sandoval added a team-high tying two service aces along with a block and three digs. Quero chipped in six digs and a block as well.
 
Garrett once again hit the 30 assist mark in a three-set match as she dished out 30 assists, had two service aces and dug up a team-best nine balls.
 
The Green and Gold will return to the court tomorrow at 9 a.m. as the Lions battle Arkansas – Fort Smith. Saint Leo will close out the tournament at 5 p.m. Saturday against the host Blazers of Valdosta State.
 
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