TAVARES, Fla. – The Saint Leo beach volleyball team kicked off the AVCA Small Beach Championships Friday afternoon. The first day of the championships featured pool play for the Lions. The Lions along with Concordia and Eckerd were part of the second pool. Saint Leo split their matches during the first day of competition.

The Lions faced a familiar opponent in Eckerd College to start the morning. The Lions were able to secure a victory in their first match, defeating the Tritons 3-1. All the pairings for Saint Leo earned victories in straight sets.

In the second match the Lions fell short to Concordia, 3-2. The pairing of Emma Miller and Ignacia Cortinez picked up the Lions first win of the match defeating Isabella Bush and Ashleigh Souza, 21-12 and 21-19. Kayla David and Julia Panko defeated the pairing of Nicki Bechtold and Martina Melicherova in two sets, 21-11 and 21-16.

Saint Leo will compete in the second day of the AVCA Small College Beach Championships, April 15^th Tavares, Florida.

MATCH ONE | SAINT LEO 3, ECKERD 1
1. Aliya Fredette-Huffman/Jeanette Henderson (SLU) def. Agata Sklepik/Kitana Lim (ECK) 21-19, 21-11
2. Dana Dull/Joelle Coulter (ECK) def. Emma Miller/Ignacia Cortinez (SLU) 21-12, 21-19
3. Kayla David/Julia Panko (SLU) def. Nicki Bechtold/Martina Melicherova (ECK) 21-11, 21-16
4. Elizabeth Sandoval/LeeAnn Potter (SLU) def. Addie White/Anna Jupin (ECK) 21-19, 21-19

MATCH TWO |SAINT LEO 2, CONCORDIA 3
1. Hannah Phair/Sara Ostojic (CIU) def. Aliya Fredette-Huffman/Jeanette Henderson (SLU) 21-12, 16-21, 15-7
2. Emma Miller/Ignacia Cortinez (SLU) def. Isabella Bush/Ashleigh Souza (CIU) 21-11, 21-15
3. Kayla David/Julia Panko (SLU) def. Tatum Smith/Hailee Ryan (CIU) 21-16, 18-21, 15-9
4. Eva Prewitt/Kelissa Lemoine (CIU) def. Elizabeth Sandoval/LeeAnn Potter (SLU) 21-15, 21-18
5. Carly Moreno/Lily Dyer (CIU) def. Erin Johnson/Clare Flanagan (SLU) 21-11, 21-16