FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Saint Leo University volleyball team made its way to Nova Southeastern University on Friday evening for its penultimate road game of the series. The road portion of the Lions 2025 schedule will wrap up on Saturday in West Palm Beach. Saint Leo battled through three sets at Nova Southeastern, showing its best performance in the third before falling 3-0. Paula Perez Rosales and Molly Chappell led the offense with seven and eight kills respectively, while Tajma Muharemovic collected 15 assists and six digs.
 
Against the Sharks, the Lions finished with 31 assists, 37 kills, and 53 digs, hitting .182 as a team in the third set — their most efficient frame of the night. Perez Rosales recorded seven kills, three blocks, and nine digs, while Chappell added eight kills, five digs, and two block assists. Brielle Kallberg chipped in seven kills and two blocks, and setter Muharemovic guided the offense with 15 assists and six digs. Mia Moser anchored the back row with 11 digs, and Camila Villar contributed 11 assists and five digs off the bench.
 
How It Happened: NOVA SOUTHEASTERN  3, SAINT LEO 0
Set 1 | Nova Southeastern 25, Saint Leo 15
Saint Leo came out aggressive to open the match, trading points early behind kills from Brielle Kallberg and Paula Perez Rosales. The Lions held within one at 8-7 after a block from Kallberg and Tajma Muharemovic, but Nova Southeastern's offense caught fire midway through the frame, using a 9-2 run to take control. Perez Rosales and Molly Chappell added late kills to stop the momentum briefly, but the Sharks' .367 team hitting percentage in the set proved too much as Nova closed it out 25-15.
 
Set 2 | Nova Southeastern 25, Saint Leo 14
The Lions looked to regroup in the second set, with Chappell and Perez Rosales each contributing early kills to keep Saint Leo close through the first 10 points. Muharemovic and Camila Villar split setting duties, helping distribute the ball effectively to multiple hitters. Midway through the frame, Kallberg and Emma LeTourneau combined for a block that trimmed the deficit to 17-13, but the Sharks answered with six straight points to pull away. Moser provided several key digs late, but Nova's serving run sealed the second set 25-14.
 
Set 3 | Nova Southeastern 25, Saint Leo 23
Saint Leo found its rhythm in the third, hitting a match-best .300 and keeping the frame close from start to finish. Chappell and Perez Rosales each tallied four kills in the set, while Villar's energy and quick sets helped the Lions stay on the attack. Moser and Perez Rosales kept long rallies alive with strong defensive play, and a late kill from Kallberg brought Saint Leo within 22-21. Despite the push, Nova Southeastern managed to win three of the final five points to take the set 25-23 and secure the sweep.
 
Inside the Numbers

• Team hitting percentage: .182 (37 kills / 153 attempts / 31 errors).
• Molly Chappell: 8 kills, 5 digs, 2 block assists.
• Paula Perez Rosales: 7 kills, 9 digs, 3 blocks.
• Brielle Kallberg: 7 kills, 2 blocks.
• Tajma Muharemovic: 15 assists, 6 digs.
• Camila Villar: 11 assists, 5 digs.
• Mia Moser: 11 digs.
• Sabrina Valentin: 3 kills, .500 hitting percentage.
• Team's best set: Set 3 (.300 hitting, 15 kills on 50 swings).

 
UP NEXT
Saint Leo closes out the road portion of its 2025 schedule as it takes on the Palm Beach Atlantic Sailfish in West Palm Beach. First serve on Saturday is set for 4 p.m.