ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The Saint Leo women's volleyball team kick started its 2024 season in dramatic fashion by earning a 3-2 non-conference win over Adelphi on Friday in the Eckerd College Invitational. Saint Leo and the Panthers split the opening four sets before the Green and Gold claimed the match with a 15-12 win in the fifth set. During the Lions' second match of the day against #4 Wayne State (Neb.), Saint Leo suffered a 3-0 loss.

Saint Leo gained the early 8-4 command in the opening set following a kill from junior Anyaliz Rodriguez. Adelphi trimmed its deficit to 12-10 following a pair of kills and a service ace.  The Lions mounted momentum with a 7-4 run capped off by a kill from Rodriguez as they grasped 19-14 cushion. Junior Paula Perez Rosales registered a kill off an assist from junior Tajma Muharemovic for a 24-19 lead before Perez Rosales and junior Brielle Kallberg blocked an attack attempt to earn the 25-19 set win.

The Panthers jumped out to an 8-3 lead in set two before the Lions battled back with a 4-0 run as Perez Rosales ignited it with a kill followed by Kallberg cut the deficit to 8-7. Adelphi extended its advantage to 14-9 before the Lions tied the set at 14-14. However, the Panthers grabbed control of the set with a 21-16 lead followed by Adelphi winning the second set by a 25-17 margin.

In the third set, the Lions fired out of the gates with a 12-4 advantage before having the frame well in-hand with a 21-11 edge after a kill from freshman Madison Moore. The Green and Gold captured the set by a 25-14 margin.

The fourth set featured a back-and-forth battle between the teams as they tied six times with the score 17-17. The Panthers executed an 8-0 run to win the fourth set 25-17.
During the final set, Adelphi led 4-2 before Saint Leo scored four of the next five points to take a 6-5 advantage. The teams continued to battle as the game was deadlocked at 12-12. The Lions offense kicked in gear by registering three consecutive kills as they claimed the set and match with a 15-12 victory.

The offense for the Lions was led by senior Oliwia Durka, who tallied 15 kills in addition to three digs and five blocks while hitting at a .227 clip. Kallberg posted 11 kills with two digs and four blocks while hitting a staggering .471. Muharemovic notched 24 assists and eight digs. Perez Rosales nearly recorded a double-double with nine kills and 10 digs. Moore registered nine kills and seven digs. Senior Ivett Flores led the match with a total of 19 digs.

In the opening set versus the Wildcats, Wayne State grasped an early 6-3 lead. The Wildcats continued their attack by executing a 5-0 run as it captured a 15-9 edge. Wayne State scored eight of the next 14 points to lead by a 23-16 as the Wildcats registered consecutive kills to win the set, 25-16.

The Wildcats jumped out to a 5-0 advantage and built a 16-5 lead following an 11-5 run. Wayne State maintained its momentum to capture the set with a 25-9 margin.
During the third set, the Wildcats grasped an 11-4 lead. The Lions executed an 8-5 run to trim their deficit to 16-12, however, Wayne State scored seven straight points to claim a 23-12 edge. Wayne State captured the third and final set by earning two of the last five points for a 25-15 win.

Saint Leo concludes the Eckerd College Invitational tomorrow as it faces Emory & Henry in non-conference action at 2:30 p.m.