SAINT LEO, Fla. – The Saint Leo University volleyball hosted the Palm Beach Atlantic Sailfish at the Pete & Linda Biscardi Court in the Marion Bowman Activities Center on Thursday evening. Saint Leo battled throughout the night, highlighted by a strong .297 hitting performance in a back-and-forth third set, but fell 3-0 to Palm Beach Atlantic. Paula Perez Rosales led the Lions with 10 kills and two aces, while Sabrina Valentin added eight kills and Giada Solorzano posted 12 digs. The Green & Gold fall to 1-9 overall and 0-5 in SSC play. 

Saint Leo hit .122 as a team with 26 kills and 16 errors on 82 attempts in a 3-0 loss to Palm Beach Atlantic. Paula Perez Rosales led the Lions with 10 kills on a .217 hitting percentage and added two service aces. Sabrina Valentin followed with eight kills while hitting .200, and Brielle Kallberg chipped in five kills and a team-high three block assists. Setter Tajma Muharemovic guided the offense with 21 assists and recorded two block assists, while libero Giada Solorzano led the back row with 12 digs.

How It Happened: PALM BEACH ATLANTIC 3, SAINT LEO 0
Set 1 | Palm Beach Atlantic 25, Saint Leo 13
The Lions got off to a slow start in the opening set as Palm Beach Atlantic capitalized on early momentum. Perez Rosales and Valentin provided the offensive spark, each tallying early kills to keep Saint Leo close through the opening points. Despite five ties in the set, the Sailfish strung together a 7-1 run late to pull away and secure the first frame 25-13.

Set 2 | Palm Beach Atlantic 25, Saint Leo 15
Saint Leo battled early in the second, trading points through the first 10 rallies before the Sailfish took advantage of a few miscues to create separation. Perez Rosales continued to pace the Lions with multiple kills, while Kallberg added solid touches at the net. The Lions fought to regain rhythm late but dropped the set 25-15 as Palm Beach Atlantic extended its lead.

Set 3 | Palm Beach Atlantic 25, Saint Leo 21
The Lions found their groove in the third, hitting .297 as a team while forcing five lead changes and five ties in a tightly contested frame. Perez Rosales and Valentin combined for 10 of Saint Leo's 15 kills in the set, and Muharemovic's setting kept the offense balanced. Kallberg anchored the block with three assists, and Solorzano's steady defense kept rallies alive. The Lions held a 20-19 lead late before Palm Beach Atlantic rallied for a 6-1 closing run to take the set 25-21 and the match.

Inside the Numbers

• Saint Leo hit .122 as a team compared to Palm Beach Atlantic's .351.
• Paula Perez Rosales led with 10 kills, two aces, and 12.5 points.
• Sabrina Valentin added eight kills and four digs.
• Brielle Kallberg posted five kills and three block assists.
• Tajma Muharemovic tallied 21 assists and two block assists.
• Giada Solorzano led the defense with 12 digs.
• The Lions totaled six team blocks and matched the Sailfish with four service aces.

 
UP NEXT
Saint Leo is back home Saturday to take on the Nova Southeastern Sharks at 4 p.m. in the Marion Bowman Activities Center.