ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The Saint Leo University volleyball team closed out its weekend at Eckerd College on Saturday afternoon. The Lions hit .160 as a team with 28 kills and 13 errors on 94 attempts in a close three-set match at Eckerd. Molly Chappell led the Lions with seven kills, two aces, and four digs, while Paula Perez Rosales added six kills on a .417 hitting percentage and setter Tajma Muharemovic recorded 14 assists and three aces. The Green & Gold fall to 1-11 overall and 0-7 in SSC play. 

Saint Leo hit .160 as a team with 28 kills and 13 errors on 94 attempts in a 3-0 loss at Eckerd. Paula Perez Rosales led the Lions with six kills and a .417 hitting percentage, while Molly Chappell followed with seven kills, two aces, and four digs. Brielle Kallberg and Kaitlyn Anderson each tallied four kills, and Rose Kailahi added three while hitting .429. Setter Tajma Muharemovic paced the offense with 14 assists, three service aces, and four digs, while Giada Solorzano led the team defensively with six digs.
 
How It Happened: NOVA SOUTHEASTERN 3, SAINT LEO 0
Set 1 | Eckerd 25, Saint Leo 17
Saint Leo opened the match with energy, using kills from Kallberg and Chappell to grab an early lead. Perez Rosales made her presence felt at the net with strong attacks, while Moser added a service ace to keep the Lions close at 10-9. Eckerd used a mid-set run to create separation, but Chappell and Perez Rosales responded late to trim the deficit before the Tritons took the set 25-17.
 
Set 2 | Eckerd 25, Saint Leo 21
The Lions found their rhythm in the second set, hitting .286 as a team and keeping the score tight throughout. Perez Rosales and Anderson fueled a 5-0 Saint Leo run to close the gap midway through, and Muharemovic's serving helped the Lions pull within 23-21. Despite the late push, Eckerd held off the rally to take the second set.
 
Set 3 | Eckerd 25, Saint Leo 17
Saint Leo continued to fight in the third, erasing an early deficit behind back-to-back aces from Muharemovic to tie the frame 5-5. Gandolfo and Perez Rosales each added timely kills, while LeTourneau and Kallberg combined for key points at the net. The Lions trailed just 20-17 late before Eckerd closed the set on a short run to finish the match.

Inside the Numbers

• Team hitting percentage: Saint Leo .160, Eckerd .329.
• Kill leaders: Chappell 7, Perez Rosales 6, Anderson 4, Kallberg 4, Kailahi 3.
• Hitting percentage leaders: Kailahi .429, Perez Rosales .417, Kallberg .375.
• Assists: Muharemovic 14, Villar 8
• Service aces: Muharemovic 3, Chappell 2, Moser 1.
• Digs: Solorzano 6, Chappell 4, Muharemovic 4, Moser 3.
• Blocks: Perez Rosales 1 solo, LeTourneau 1 solo, Kallberg 1 solo.

 
UP NEXT
Saint Leo is back on the road again next weekend in south Florida. The Lions will take on the Lynn Fighting Knights at 7 p.m. on Friday, October 24 before taking on the Barry Buccaneers  on Saturday October 25 at 4 p.m.