CLEVELAND, Tenn. – After going .500 in the season opening weekend, the Saint Leo University volleyball team bounced back in a big way, sweeping both the Erskine Fleet and the host Lee Flames Friday at Paul Dana Walker Arena.
 
Saint Leo 3, Erkine 0
The Green & Gold (4-2) did not allow the Fleet (2-4) to see more than 16 points per set, as Erskine was limited to a .130 attack percentage.  Transfer Kennedy DeLuca finished the contest with 12 kills, two blocks, one assist and one service ace for a .786 attacking percentage and 14 points.
 
The first set was fueled by two, five-point runs for the Lions, en route to a 25-15 win.  Saint Leo would have a lead as large as 11 in the opening set.
 
Set Two provided a bit of a challenge, as both teams exchanged points before Erskine took a slim 12-11 lead.  The Green & Gold responded with six, unanswered points that fueled a 14-4 run to finish the frame with a 25-16 victory.
 
The Lions controlled the third set, the only set where the Fleet did not see a lead.  After building an 8-2 lead, the Lions saw Erskine battle back to within two (10-8) before responding with taking six of the seven points.  The run solidified a comfortable lead for the Green & Gold that ultimately led to Saint Leo's first sweep of the season.
 
Saint Leo 3, Lee 0
Later in the evening, the Lions picked up its first regional win against the Flames (1-5), allowing an average of 18.67 points per set.  Redshirt Senior Elizabeth Sandoval led all players with 16 kills and 16.5 points, posting a .483 hitting percentage.  Senior Skylar Singleton posted 18 assists while Freshman Tajma Muharemovic tallied 16.
 
Saint Leo began the contest a step behind the Flames, as Lee began the first set with an 11-9 lead.  Nevertheless, the Lions responded with a roaring 11-2 run for a nine-point turnaround.  After Lee cut the Lions' lead to five (20-15), the Lions took five of the final seven points to win the opening set 25-17.
 
The Green & Gold continued its momentum into the second set, jumping out to a quick 4-0 lead before Lee picked up its pace to maintain the frame.  With a slim 13-12, the Lions went on another tear, this time an eight-point run that appeared to set the Green & Gold to cruise to an easy second set win.  Lee would not be diffused too quickly, following Saint Leo's streak with a 7-1 run to cut the difference to three points (22-19).  After the Lions picked up the next two points, Lee tried keeping the contest alive, slimming the deficit to two (24-22), before Saint Leo delivered the final blow of the frame to take a 25-22 win.
    
The final set of the day played a similar tune to the first set, in which Lee kept the frame close (10-9) before another game-changing run fueled the Lions' momentum, scoring nine of the next ten points to push its lead to 19-10.  Lee attempted a run of their own, scoring the next five points before Saint Leo nearly matched their scores with four, unanswered points to hold an eight-point lead (23-15).  Sophomore Colby Stempkowski would clinch the sweep with two final kills to take the set 25-17 and the series.
 
"I was pleased with our performance today" said Head Coach Natalia Koryzna.  "The girls kept their focus and executed the plan very well.  There is still a lot of work to be done but we are going in the right direction."
 
Lions by the Numbers
0:        Sets given up on the day
1:        South regional win
2:        Set sweeps
3:        Games with 10+ service aces
4:        Season wins
 
Saint Leo will conclude play at the Lee Invitational Saturday with #2 Washburn and the University of Montevallo.  First serve against the second-ranked team in the country is set for 9:30 a.m.
 
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