SAINT LEO, Fla. – The Saint Leo volleyball team lost 3-1 (18-25, 25-22, 13-25, 15-25) at home versus Embry-Riddle in a Sunshine State Conference (SSC) match on Friday night. With the loss, the Lions move to 5-16 overall with a 1-12 mark in conference play.

Despite trailing 9-3 in the first set, Saint Leo scored three consecutive points highlighted by kills from freshman Emma LeTourneau and junior Brielle Kallberg, 9-6. As the Eagles held a 14-11 cushion, Embry-Riddle scored five straight points to claim a 19-11 lead. Both teams split the next 14 points as the Eagles won the opening set 25-18. The Green and Gold finished the first frame with a .231 hitting percentage that featured a total of 10 kills and only four errors.

The Lions jumped out to a 7-4 lead in the second set after a kill from senior Oliwia Durka. Saint Leo maintained a three-point margin with a 10-7 edge; however, Embry-Riddle went on a 6-0 run to grasp its first lead of the set, 13-10. While the Eagles held a 17-13 lead, the Lions executed an 8-1 stretch that was capped off by a pair of attacking errors from Embry-Riddle, 21-18. The Green and Gold held the Eagles at bay for the remainder of the frame for a 25-22 victory.

During the third set, Embry-Riddle claimed a commanding 11-5 margin before taking a 20-9 lead. The Eagles rode the early momentum to win the set 25-13.

In the last frame, the Lions were held to a .032 hitting percentage as the Eagles led by an 11-9 margin before conducting an 8-2 run for a 19-11 lead. Embry-Riddle scored five of the next eight points for the match-point opportunity at 24-14 and eventually won the set by a 25-15 margin.

Durka led the offensive attack for the Lions with 23 kills in addition to collecting eight digs and an assisted block. Senior Sophia Leon-Tabor dished out 16 assists while junior Tajma Muharemovic earned 15 assists and notched five digs in the process. Kallberg controlled the net with a total of six blocks, three of which were solo. Durka also chipped in on the defensive effort with eight digs while sophomore Molly Chappell tallied eight digs as well.

Saint Leo returns to the court tomorrow, Saturday, November 9 as it hosts Rollins in a conference bout, starting at 4 p.m.