SAINT LEO, Fla. – The three-seed Saint Leo University beach volleyball team went 2-0 on the first day of the inaugural Sunshine State Conference championship. The host team earned the first-round victory over the six-seed Barry Buccaneers, 3-0 before earning a decisive thrilling 3-2 victory over the two-seed Palm Beach Atlantic Sailfish to advance to the semifinals. Saint Leo will take on the top-seed Tampa Spartans on Saturday morning.
 
In the opening match the Lions were earned straight set wins on all three courts needed to advance in the championship bracket. As the number two pair, Brenna Reinhard and Tajma Muharemovic earned a dominating 21-4 victory in the opening set before clinching the early 1-0 match advantage with a 21-11 second set win. The host institution took a 2-0 lead as one pair of Jeanette Henderson and Emma Miller posted identical 21-11 set victories. As the Lions continued to dominate the Buccaneers, Erin Johnson and Paula Perez Rosales took down their opponents on court number four, 21-9 and 21-13 as Saint Leo completed the 3-0 victory.
 
In what proved to be a thrilling upset 3-2 victory over the number two seed Palm Beach Atlantic Sailfish, the Lions number three pair of Kayla David and Oliwia Durka needed a third set to take down the 'Fish to advance to the semifinals. Henderson and Miller opened the match with a 21-17 and 21-15 victory to take the early 1-0 lead. PBA quickly tied the match at 1-1 with a win by its number two pair after an extra point first set, 23-21. Emma Laade and Reagan Hopp put the Lions back on top, 2-1, with a 21-11 and 21-18 victory on court number five. Saint Leo saw its opponent tie the match again, this time at 2-2 with a victory by the number four pair. David and Durka won the first set as the number three pair, 21-17 before falling in the second set 19-21. The Lions jumped out to a solid lead at 14-7 before the Sailfish rallied off seven points to tie it at 14-14. PBA made it a 15-14 advantage in its favor before back-to-back points by the home team clinched the victory, 17-15.
 
(3) Saint Leo 3, (6) Barry 0
1. Jeanette Henderson/Emma Miller (SLU) def. Ana Perez/Fiona Baker (BU) 21-11, 21-11
2. Brenna Reinhard/Tajma Muharemovic (SLU) def. Ellie Madrigal/Marina Azevedo (BU) 21-4, 21-11
3. Kayla David/Oliwia Durka (SLU) vs. Isabella Rangel/Alyssa Talcott (BU) 21-15, 20-4 UF
4. Erin Johnson/Paula Perez Rosales (SLU) def. Adrienne Saunders/Danielle Hansen (BU) 21-9, 21-13
5. Emma Laade/Reagan Hopp (SLU) vs. Lacey Turner/Isabella Marquez (BU) 21-13, 13-7 UF
 
ORDER OF FINISH: 2, 1, 4
 
(3) Saint Leo 3, (2) Palm Beach Atlantic 2
1. Jeanette Henderson/Emma Miller (SLU) def. Anna Dunbar/Serena Baumgart (PBA) 21-17, 21-15
2. Camdyn Albrecht/Katelyn Nadeau (PBA) def. Brenna Reinhard/Tajma Muharemovic (SLU) 23-21, 21-10
3. Kayla David/Oliwia Durka (SLU) def. Abby Plevin/Annika Huhtamaki (PBA) 21-17, 19-21, 17-15
4. Sydney Corbett and Savannah DeCarlo (PBA) def. Erin Johnson/Paula Perez Rosales (SLU) 21-17, 21-18
5. Emma Laade/Reagan Hopp (SLU) def. Angela Goggin/Cameron Ring (PBA) 21-11, 21-18
 
ORDER OF FINISH: 1, 2, 5, 4, 3
 
UP NEXT
Saint Leo will take on the top-seed Tampa Spartans at 10 a.m. on Saturday morning for a chance to play in the title match at 3:30 p.m. the loser of the 10 a.m. match will play at 1:30 p.m. against the winner of the Palm Beach Atlantic/Florida Southern 11:30 a.m. match.