TAMPA, Fla. – Saint Leo University beach volleyball split its first two contests on the opening day of the Tampa Tournament. The Lions fell 4-1 to the Spartans before blanking Florida Southern to close out the day. With the split, Saint Leo is now 10-4 on the season.

Jeanette Henderson and Aliya Fredette-Huffman picked up the Lions lone win in a 4-1 loss to Tampa. The Lions number two pair rallied from a 21-10 first set loss with a 21-16 victory in the second set and then closed out the victory with a 15-9 third set win. Ignacia Cortinez and Emma Miller as the number four pair tied it up with a 23-21 second set victory but fell 15-8 in the final set.

Saint Leo earned its second victory over Florida Southern in nine days with a 5-0 sweep of the Mocs in the second match of the day. The Lions won all five courts in straight sets as the number one pair od Kayla David and Julia Panko opened the match with back-to-back 21-13 set victories. Cortinez and Miller as the number three pair put the Lions up 2-0 with 24-22 and 21-13 wins. Clare Flanagan and Emma Laade win 21-16 and 21-11 to clinch the match victory for the Green and Gold. LeeAnn Potter and Brenna Reinhard held off the Mocs for a 21-19 first set win and clinched the fourth point for the Lions with a 21-13 second set victory. Henderson and Fredette-Huffman completed the sweep of Florida Southern with 21-16 and 21-17 wins.  

TAMPA 4, SAINT LEO 1

1. Olivia Margolies/Payton Brunick (UT) def. Kayla David/Julia Panko (SLU) 23-21, 23-21
2. Aliya Fredette-Huffman/Jeanette Henderson (SLU) def. Keely Hamilton/Madison Brunick (UT) 10-21, 21-16, 15-9
3. Nevaeh Wolfe/Hailey Wolfe (UT) def. def. Clare Flanagan/Emma Laade (SLU) 21-14, 21-16
4. Cassidy Ehrie/Angel Williams (UT) def. Ignacia Cortinez/Emma Miller (SLU) 23-21, 21-23, 15-8
5. Teona Treskounov/Hailey Peterson (UT) def. LeeAnn Potter/Brenna Reinhard (SLU) 21-9, 21-15

 
SAINT LEO 5, FLORIDA SOUTHERN 0

1. Kayla David/Julia Panko (SLU) def.Emma Winford/Ashli McKenny (FSC) 21-13, 21-13
2. Aliya Fredette-Huffman/Jeanette Henderson (SLU) def. Sarah Crocker/Reagan Carlton (FSC) 21-16, 21-17
3. Ignacia Cortinez/Emma Miller (SLU) def. Hayley St. Martin/Mary Olivia Muti (FSC) 24-22, 21-13
4. Clare Flanagan/Emma Laade (SLU) def. Christina Ramazio/ Sydney Melcher (FSC) 21-16, 21-11
5. LeeAnn Potter/Brenna Reinhard (SLU) def. Hailey Carefoot/Jackie Schner (FSC) 21-19, 21-13

UP NEXT
Saint Leo returns to Tampa tomorrow to take on the Sailfish of Palm Beach Atlantic at 10 a.m. and close out the weekend with a noon match up against the host Spartans.