Saint Leo University Athletics

SAINT LEO, Fla. – The Saint Leo University volleyball team welcomed in No. 3 University of Tampa Tuesday night for a Sunshine State Conference match inside the Marion Bowman Activities Center. The Lions came out and gave Tampa all it could handle. The Lions fell in the opening two sets 25-20 before storming back in the third to take a dominating 25-14 set victory. The fourth saw the Lions jump out to an early lead but the Spartans battled back and eventually took the set and match in extra points, 28-26.
 
The loss drops Saint Leo to 4-11 on the year and 0-5 in league play. The Spartans improved to 13-1 overall and a perfect 5-0 in SSC play.
 
Sophomore Alexa Gandolfo and freshman Reagan Lyerla led the Lion attack as they each finished with double-digit kills. Gandolfo posted 13 kills, one block and one dig while Lyerla added 12 kills, nine digs, a team-best four service aces and a block. Junior Gina Stavile chipped in seven kills, five digs, three blocks and a pair of service aces.
 
Freshman setter Jansen Warbritton led the team in both assists and digs with 31 and 14, respectively. She also added a pair of kills, two service aces and a block. Graduate student libero Giada Solorzano finished with 12 digs while junior defensive specialist Mia Moser added 10. Junior Chloe Danielson led the team with five blocks including one solo while adding three kills.
 
Saint Leo hit .197 as a team while holding Tampa to a .207 percentage.
 
Connor Rahn led the Spartans with 13 kills and eight digs. Ana Rivera led the backline with 21 digs.
 
The Lions will be back in action this Friday, Oct. 2 as they welcome in another nationally-ranked opponent Barry for a 6 p.m. match.