ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The Saint Leo University volleyball team earned head coach Abby Keim her first head coaching victory as the leader of the Lions. Saint Leo put together a 3-0 victory over Edward Waters on Friday morning to open the 2025 Triton Invitational hosted by Eckerd College. With the victory the Green & Gold improve to 1-2 on the season.

Saint Leo hit .325 as a team behind 35 kills and only nine errors across 80 swings. Brielle Kallberg led the way with 11 kills on a blistering .786 hitting percentage, while Jala Drayton added seven kills on nine attempts for a .778 clip. Setter Tajma Muharemovic paced the offense with 23 assists and chipped in two service aces. On defense, Mia Moser anchored the back row leading the team, along with Chappell, nine digs. The Lions also tallied 13 service aces and six total blocks in the victory.
 
How It Happened
Set 1 | Saint Leo 25, Edward Waters 18
The Lions came out strong, swinging efficiently with 14 kills on a .355 hitting percentage. Kallberg was nearly unstoppable at the net, while Drayton and Molly Chappell added key swings to keep Saint Leo in front. Muharemovic distributed the ball with confidence, helping the Lions control the tempo on their way to the opening set win.

Set 2 | Saint Leo 25, Edward Waters 17
Momentum carried into the second frame as Saint Leo mixed efficient attacking with a dominant service game. Moser and Solorzano applied pressure from the line, combining for multiple aces that kept the Tigers off balance. Defensively, Solorzano kept rallies alive with double-digit digs at that point in the match, while Kallberg continued her flawless hitting. The Lions steadily pulled away to secure the set 25-17.

Set 3 | Saint Leo 25, Edward Waters 19
Edward Waters pushed back in the third, but Saint Leo maintained composure in a competitive set. Chappell and Sabrina Valentin chipped in timely kills, while Kaitlyn Anderson and Drayton combined for important touches at the net. Muharemovic's setting kept the attack balanced, and Kallberg delivered the final blows as the Lions sealed the sweep with a 25-19 victory.
  
Inside the Numbers

• Saint Leo finished with a .325 team hitting percentage, its best of the young season
• Four Lions hit above .300, led by Brielle Kallberg's 11 kills on a .786 clip without an error
• Jala Drayton added seven kills on nine attempts for a .778 efficiency
• Chappell and Moser anchored the defense with a team best nine digs each.
•  Lions' serve was a difference-maker with 13 total aces
• Saint Leo held Edward Waters to just a .120 hitting percentage on the day
• The win marked the first career head coaching victory for Abby Keim at Saint Leo

 
UP NEXT
Saint Leo returns for her the second day of the Triton Invitational as it takes on UIndy and Bowie State. The Lions and the Hounds open the day at 10 a.m. followed by a scheduled 2:30 p.m. first serve against Bowie State.