ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Saint Leo University beach volleyball split its matches on Friday in on the opening day of the 2025 Triton Invitational hosted by Eckerd College. The Lions fell in the open match to Florida Southern, 3-2, before taking the second match of the day against Polk State, 4-0. The Lions are now 4-6 overall.

Saint Leo earned a pair of wins at one the number one and five courts in a 3-2 loss to Florida Southern. Saint Leo's number one pair of Jeanette Henderson and Emma Miller won 21-17 and 21-16. The Lions earned their second win of the match by their number five pair of Emma Laade and Reagan Hopp as the duo won 21-16 and 21-18. Florida Southern earned two of its three wins in two sets. Saint Leo's number two pair of Kayla David and Oliwia Durka tied their match at 1-1 with a 21-15 second set victory before falling 16-14 in the third set.

The Lions cruised to a 4-0 win over Polk State in the second match of the day. The Green & Gold won all four courts in two sets. Saint Leo held its Polk State opponents to singles digits in six of eight total sets. Kayla David and Oliwia Durka posted an impressive first set win of 21-3.

FLORIDA SOUTHERN 3, SAINT LEO 2
1. Jeanette Henderson/Emma Miller (SLU) def. Emma Winford/Ashli Mckenny (FSC) 21-17 21-16
2. Sydney Melcher/Nicole Eden (FSC) def. Kayla David/Oliwia Durka (SLU) 21-19 15-21 16-14
3. Hailey Carefoot/Reagan Carlton (FSC) def. Erin Johnson/Tajma Muharemovic (SLU) 21-10 25-23
4. Isabella Muti/ Zoe Lowe (FSC) def. Madison Moore/ Paula Perez Rosales (SLU) 21-17 21-17
5. Emma Laade/Reagan Hopp (SLU) def. Hayley St. Martin/Mary Olivia Muti (FSC) 21-16 21-18
EXH Josie Villarreal/Brenna Reinhard (SLU) def. Sarah Idler/Aubrey Wieser (FSC) 14-21 21-19 15-11
 
SAINT LEO 4, POLK STATE 0
1. Jeanette Henderson/Emma Miller (SLU) def. Giulia Beatriz/Beca Correa (PSC) 21-1 21-0
2. Kayla David/Oliwia Durka (SLU) def. Rezzan Guner/Brooklyn Anderson (PSC) 21-3 21-9
3. Madison Moore/Paula Perez Rosales (SLU) def. Isabella Pedrosa/Sofi Sanchez (PSC) 21-7 21-17
4. Emma Laade/Reagan Hopp (SLU) def. Isabella Ramos/Alexia Ortiz (PSC) 21-13 21-9

UP NEXT
Saint Leo returns to courts for the final day of the Triton Invite in St. Petersburg on Saturday, March 15. The Lions will take on the host Eckerd to open the day at 11 a.m. before closing the day against Liberty at 1 p.m.