WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – The Saint Leo University volleyball team was one point away from its second, Sunshine State Conference win before the Sailfish came away with three, straight points in the fifth set to steal the match away from the Lions Friday night at the Rubin Arena.
 
Despite hitting .182 overall on the night, Saint Leo (5-8, 1-4 SSC) hit over .350 in both the opening and final frames, highlighted by the play of Freshman Julia Panko (.370) and Senior Madi Certain (.333).  Panko additionally posted career highs with 15.5 points and seven digs.
 
With both teams tied at seven apiece, the Green & Gold moved out to a 7-2 run that proved to be the set changer as Palm Beach Atlantic (8-5, 3-3 SSC) could only get to within three of the Green & Gold before the Lions took the opening frame 25-18.
 
The Sailfish steadily secured the second set, pushing out to a 10-5 lead before Saint Leo kept pace.  A pair of errors from PBA's Kayla Matthews, coupled by a few kills from Junior Kennedy DeLuca and Panko cut the deficit to 14-10 before the Sailfish cushioned its lead to six (17-11).  The Lions responded with three straight points (17-14) but PBA fired back with four unanswered to push the lead to seven (21-14).  Both sides exchanged points before the Sailfish took the final three points to tie the match with a 25-16 set win.
 
Saint Leo struggled out of the gate in Set Three, as the Sailfish set the tone with a blazing 10-2 start.  Not all hope was lost in the set, as the Lions battled back to within four (20-16) of PBA.  The Sailfish then proceeded to score five of the next seven points for its first set lead of the night.
 
Like Palm Beach Atlantic in the third set, Saint Leo began on the attack with their own 10-2 run.  The Green & Gold's momentum would not last long, as the Sailfish fought back to pull within two (15-13).  After the Lions pushed its lead to four (18-14), the momentum pendulum sharply swung in favor of PBA, responding with five unanswered to take its first lead in the set, 19-18.  When both teams tied at 20 apiece, the Lions gave an extra push to finish the set on a 4-1 run to notch the match two sets apiece heading into the deciding set.
 
The fifth set was one to remember in the Sunshine State Conference, as neither team held a lead of more than four points.  Down 10-7, the Lions roared to a 6-3 run to have match point at 14-13 before Palm Beach Atlantic's prayers were answered with three straight points to win the set (16-14) and the match.
 
Lions by the Numbers
2:        Sets won
6:        Times Lions outkilled its opponent
7:        Team blocks
8:        Team aces
13:      Kills for Julia Panko (career-high)
60:      Total team kills
 
Saint Leo is back on the hardwood floor Saturday to face #16 Barry; first serve in Miami Shores, Fla. is scheduled for 4 p.m.
 
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