SAINT LEO, Fla. – Despite battling in both matches in the final day of the Lions Volleyball Fall Tournament, the Saint Leo women's volleyball team lost 3-2 against UVA Wise before losing 3-0 versus Valdosta State on the nightcap to conclude this year's tournament.

MATCH 1: UVA Wise 3, Saint Leo 2

After falling behind by two sets, the Green and Gold grasped a 6-3 lead in the third set, however, the Highland Cavaliers answered with a 7-3 run and claimed a slight 10-9 edge. A kill from junior Brielle Kallberg ignited a 5-0 run for Saint Leo as it jumped out to a 14-10 advantage. Both teams remained in a stalemate with neither side pulling ahead with the score tied at 16-16. After the Lions captured the next two points, UVA Wise and Saint Leo split the following 10 points as the Green and Gold led by a 23-21 margin. The Highland Cavaliers cut their deficit to one after a kill, however, the Lions notched the last two points of the set with kills from freshman Kaitlyn Anderson junior Paula Perez Rosales, 25-22.

Early in the fourth frame, UVA Wise led 3-0 before Saint Leo stormed back and tied the set 4-4. The teams continued a back-and-forth battle as they split the following 14 points with the score deadlocked at 14. The Highland Cavaliers recorded three consecutive points and led by a score of 14-11. The Lions executed a 6-2 run to jump out to a 17-16 lead before UVA Wise applied pressure by scoring four straight and taking a 20-17 advantage. The Green and Gold eventually mounted momentum as freshman Madison Moore kick started a 4-0 run for them, 22-21. Following a three-point run, the Highland Cavaliers were on a match point opportunity. Saint Leo countered by scoring four of the next five points as it led by a 26-25 margin. A kill from Kallberg and an attack error from UVA Wise gave the Lions the 28-26 victory for the fourth set.

The Highland Cavaliers paced to an early 7-2 lead in the final set. The Green and Gold cut their deficit to 8-7 after a kill from junior Tajma Muharemovic and Kallberg, however, UVA Wise finished the last set on a 7-1 run to earn the 3-2 win.

Rosales led the Lions' offense with 19 kills in addition to 15 digs. Moore notched 10 kills and 10 digs with a trio of blocks. Kallberg posted eight kills while hitting at a .235 clip with four assisted blocks. Muharemovic dished out 39 assists and 18 digs. Senior Ivett Flores led the team with 22 digs along with recording five assists. Senior Sophia Leon-Tabor made her presence felt on defense with 12 digs.

MATCH 2: Valdosta State 3, Saint Leo 0

During the first set, the Blazers jumped out to a 10-3 advantage before the Lions fought back to trim their deficit to 10-7 following a 4-0 run. Saint Leo then scored eight of the next 11 points with Rosales tallying the kill that gave the Green and Gold a 15-13 cushion. Valdosta State answered with a 7-3 run to retake the lead at 20-18. A service error from the Blazers gave the Lions life as it scored three straight and led by a 21-20 margin. Both teams showcased their offensive ability with Valdosta State executing a 4-0 run followed by the Lions recording another three straight points with the set knotted at 24-24. The Blazers and Saint Leo continued to answer each other's points by splitting eight points until a kill and service ace gave Valdosta State the set, 30-28.

In the second frame with the score tied 6-6, the Blazers went on a 6-1 run as they led 12-7. A kill by Leon-Tabor helped the Lions gain traction as they cut the Valdosta State to 13-11 with a 4-1 run. The Blazers extended their lead to 21-14 as they scored eight of the next 11 points. A pair of kills from Perez Rosales cut the Green and Gold deficit to 22-18, however, Valdosta State earned the set with a trio of kills, 25-19.

Saint Leo grasped its first lead of the third set junior Anyaliz Rodriguez registered back-to-back service aces to give the Lions a 10-7 advantage. The Blazers rallied back and tied the game at 16. Valdosta State reclaimed the lead with two kills from Jojo Smith, however, Saint Leo took a 23-22 lead after a kill from Perez Rosales ignited a 5-2 run. The Blazers notched four of the last five points to take the set and the match.

Perez Rosales registered 18 kills and hit at a .234 mark while also recording 11 digs. Rodriguez posted 10 kills and 11 digs. Leon-Tabor and Muharemovic each dished out 14 assists. Flores recorded 19 digs as the libero.

Saint Leo returns to the court on Saturday, September 21 as it travels to compete against Florida College in a non-conference bout at 7 p.m.