HOOVER, Ala. – The Saint Leo University volleyball team found a breakthrough in its 2022 season, ending an eight-game skid to sweep Valdosta State Friday afternoon at Finley Center's Court 2.
 
Senior Ally-Reese Williams recorded 12 kills and one ace on the day, as Junior Kennedy DeLuca tallied seven kills and a block against her former team.
 
After a kill by Junior Margaret Schirm In the opening set to give Saint Leo (6-12, 1-8 SSC) the first point, Valdosta State (8-15, 2-7 GSC) scored three of the next four points to hold a lead over the Green & Gold for the majority of the frame.  With the set tied at 18 apiece, Saint Leo blazed (no pun intended) past VSU on a 7-1 run that gave the Lions a 25-19 set win.
 
Valdosta State began the second set with a 5-1 lead, as Saint Leo would have to again play from behind.  The first three times the Lions gained a lead, the Blazers would quickly tie the set, if not take the lead.  After the Green & Gold took a 10-9 lead, the Red & Black responded with five, unanswered points to maintain a four-point cushion all the way to a 16-12 lead before the Lions responded with their own five-point run to step ahead 17-16.  Both sides would then exchange two points apiece until VSU held a 24-23, in which Saint Leo scored three points to win Set Two 26-24.
 
The Blazers began the next set with another lead (4-1) that would only be erased by the Lions' comeback efforts that saw the Green & Gold retake the lead 13-9 to give the fans another thrilling set that went down to the wire.  VSU proceeded to tally five of the next six points to knot up the score line 14-14, as neither side would lead by more than two for the rest of the contest.
 
With the Blazers up 23-21, Saint Leo rallied to notch three quick points to go on the brink of a sweep before VSU tied up the set at 24.  Both sides exchanged a point at 25 before the Lions finished off Valdosta State with the final two points to win Set Three 27-25 and claim its third-ever sweep over the Red & Black.
 
Saint Leo is back on the court Saturday for doubleheader action, first taking on the University of West Alabama at 10 a.m. EST before finishing the Crossover Challenge with University of West Georgia at 5:45 p.m. EST.
 
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