SAINT LEO, Fla. – The Saint Leo volleyball team lost 3-0 (14-25, 16-25, 21-25) versus Florida Tech at home on Friday night in a Sunshine State Conference (SSC) match.

Despite having a 6-5 lead in the opening set, the Panthers scored nine unanswered points to claim a 14-6 advantage. Florida Tech eventually captured a double-digit margin with a 23-10 cushion before winning the first frame with a score of 25-14.

The Panthers jumped out to an 11-4 edge. Saint Leo trimmed its deficit to 19-14 from a pair of service aces and kills from junior Brielle Kallberg and senior Oliwia Durka. However, Florida Tech scored six of the next eight points to earn a 25-16 victory in the second set.

The Lions registered their highest hitting percentage of the night in the third frame that was highlighted by a 7-0 run which started with a kill from junior Anyaliz Rodriguez and capped off by another kill from Rodriguez to tie the set 17-17. The Panthers executed a 7-3 run to claim a match-point opportunity before winning the frame, 25-21.

Kallberg and Durka led the Lions with seven kills each while senior Sophia Leon-Tabor registered a trio of service aces. Senior Sheila Rodriguez controlled the net with a total of four blocks. Junior setter Tajma Muharemovic dished out 14 assists in addition to tallying six digs.

The Green and Gold are back on the court, tomorrow, Saturday, November 16 as they host Nova Southeastern on Senior Day in an SSC bout, starting at 4 p.m.