TAVARAS, Fla. - The Saint Leo University beach volleyball team advanced to the championship bracket for the first time in program history with a 3-2 victory over Palm Beach Atlantic on Saturday afternoon. The Lions opened the day with a 3-1 loss to Texas A&M - Kingsville to finish second in Pool 4. With a 2-1 record in pool play, the Lions advanced to the challenge round for the first and second place finishers in pool play. 

The Lions will take on Concordia University - Irvine at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday in the championship semifinals for a chance to play for the AVCA Small College Beach Championship title at 2:15 p.m. 

Saint Leo opened the day against the Javalinas. Kayla David and Julia Panko earned the Lions only win in a 3-1 loss to Texas A&M – Kingsville. The Lions number three pair of Ignacia Cortinez and Emma Miller won the first set 21-13 before dropping set two, 21-8. The duo went to a deciding third set but ultimately fell 15-10. Wins for the Javalinas at pair four and five gave them the 3-1 victory and a 3-0 record in pool play. The Lions finished pool play with a 2-1 record to place second and advance to the challenge round for first and second place finishers.

In the challenge round Saint Leo was pitted against Palm Beach Atlantic. During the regular season the Lions and the Sailfish split its two matches with the Lions winning 4-1 at the Tampa Tournament last month.

In Saturday's match against the Sailfish, the match came down to the final court as the Lions' number two pair of Aliya Fredette-Huffman and Jeanette Henderson rallied from a 23-21 first set loss. The duo rallied off a 22-20 second set victory before claiming the match point with a 15-13 victory in the final and deciding set. The Lions earned wins from their number four and five pairs as LeeAnn Potter and Brenna Reinhard rallied to win the second and third set.
 
TEXAS A&M – KINGSVILLE 3, SAINT LEO 1

1. Kayla David/Julia Panko (SLU) def. Rylan Pollard/Kalani Vasquez (TAMUK) 21-17, 21-13
2. Aliya Fredette-Huffman/Jeanette Henderson (SLU) vs. Grace Gettys/Adrienne Van Brunt (TAMUK) no result
3. Madelyn Wallace/Olivia Zeigler (TAMUK) def. Ignacia Cortinez/Emma Miller (SLU) 17-21, 21-8, 15-10
4. Liana Huesca/Taylor McCarthy (TAMUK) def. LeeAnn Potter/Brenna Reinhard (SLU) 21-14, 21-19
5. Rylie Anderson/Meghan Stiefer (TAMUK) def. Amanda Doherty/Emma Laade (SLU) 21-15, 21-15

 
SAINT LEO 3, PALM BEACH ATLANTIC 2

1. Gabriella Aziz/Abigail Mason (PBA) def. Kayla David/Julia Panko (SLU) 21-18, 15-21, 15-13
2. Aliya Fredette-Henderson/Jeanette Henderson (SLU) def. Anna Dunbar/Eva Hertz (PBA) 21-23, 22-20, 15-13
3. Lola Ackman/Annika Huhtamaki (PBA) def. Ignacia Cortinez/Emma Miller (SLU) 21-19, 21-14
4. LeeAnn Potter/Brenna Reinhard (SLU) def. Julia Golichowski/Abigail Plevin (PBA) 17-21, 21-14, 15-8
5. Amanda Doherty/Emma Laade (SLU) def. Karla Cantero-Garcia/Oda Stray Homme (PBA) 22-20, 21-19

UP NEXT
Saint Leo will take on Concordia Irvine in the championship bracket semifinal round at 10:30 a.m. The Lions are set to play their opening match on courts B 1-5. The winner will advance to the championship finals on courts A 1-5 at 2:15 p.m. to face the winner of Tampa and Colorado Mesa. The losing teams from the semifinal matches will face each other in the third-place match at 2:15 p.m. on courts B 1-5.