FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. (September 8, 2008) - The Nova Southeastern University volleyball team picked up a key Sunshine State Conference win by a 3-1 score over #24 Saint Leo University in action inside the University Center Arena on Saturday afternoon. The 25-20, 28-26, 22-25, 25-20 victory improves the Sharks record to 13-5 on the season and 3-2 in SSC play while Saint Leo falls to 18-5 and 2-4 in SSC play.

The Sharks came out swinging in the first set, posting 18 team kills in the 25-20 win. Setter Valia Petrova (Sr., Sofia, Bulgaria) set the tone, tallying four kills and 11 assists. Middle blocker Melinda Gorman (Sr., Sarasota, Fla.) also had four kills for NSU. The Sharks out-hit Saint Leo .333 to .286 and had three services aces in the set.

In a back and forth set that saw 10 ties and two lead changes, the Sharks came out on top 28-26. Gorman once again paced NSU with five kills and three digs. Petrova added three kills, 12 assists, two aces and four digs.

Five kills from middle blocker Emily Carle (Sr., Missouri City, Fla.) wasn't enough for NSU as they dropped the set 25-22. Lions' outside hitter Jenna Jordan posted five kills and seven digs for Saint Leo. The Sharks helped Saint Leo's cause with seven attack errors, five service errors and two ball handling errors.

Saint Leo struggled in the fourth set as NSU clinched the match with a 25-20 win. The Sharks hit .121 but picked it up defensively, holding the Lions to a -.138 attack percentage. Gorman tallied four more kills while middle blocker Molly Sigerich (Fr., Downers Grove, Ill) and Petrova had three apiece. Carle had three blocks in the set.

For the match, Nova Southeastern out-hit Saint Leo .209 to .157. The Sharks had 21 more kills, 16 more assists and ten more aces than the Lions in the match.

Petrova led the Sharks with her second triple-double of the season. She registered 11 kills, 42 assists, 11 digs, three aces and four blocks. Gorman had a team high 16 kills, followed by Carle and Sigerich with 10 apiece. Defensive specialist Alison Kalish (Jr., Miami, Fla.) and libero Kathleen Yony (So., Miami, Fla.) tied for the team lead with 11 digs. Carle had a team high six blocks.

NSU will travel to West Palm Beach, Fla. on Friday, Oct. 10th to play Palm Beach Atlantic University at 7 pm. The Sharks will then host SSC rival Rollins College at 4 pm on Saturday, Oct. 11th inside the University Center Arena.