Box Score

ST. LEO, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern University volleyball team (7-14, 2-8 SSC) dropped three straight sets to the Saint Leo Lions, 25-22, 25-18, 26-24, Saturday afternoon in the Bowman Center.

"The bottom line is us to create a mental attitude, regardless of the outcome," said head coach Steve Wilcosky. "We have to be mentally tough and come in to each game, each match with the ability to compete at the highest level.  We are still searching for that."

The Lions (11-10, 6-4 SSC) outhit the Sharks, .299 to .191. The Sharks dug 59 Saint Leo attempts, the most this year for NSU in a three set match.

Senior Paola Ruiz (Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico) finished with 14 kills, 10 in the final set. The outside hitter also had 14 digs for her 20th career double-double. Sophomore Danielle Graham (Cincinnati, Ohio) finished with a career high four blocks. Senior libero Kathleen Yony (Miami, Fla.) tallied a team high 15 digs.

Sharks tied the match at 13-13 but Saint Leo used a 5-1 rally to take an 18-14 lead in set one. Wilcosky called a timeout to break the momentum but the Lions scored two straight points after the break to take a six point advantage.

With Saint Leo at set point and a six point lead, the Sharks rallied back to pull within three on two kills from junior Anabely Escarpita (Boca Raton, Fla.) and one from Graham. After a timeout from Saint Leo's head coach, Graham and Rachel Woodson (So., Rogers, Ark.) put up a big block to continue the rally and get their 22nd point. The Lions ended the set after hitting a ball off the NSU block to take the early 1-0 lead on a 25-22 win.

Already down 1-0, the Lions applied more pressure by taking set two, 25-18. Down 21-16, Graham put up back-to-back-to-back blocks, two with Escarpita and one solo but it was not enough.

The Sharks continued to fight all the way through the third set, even tying the match at 19-19 on a kill by Escarpita. After Wilcosky used a timeout down by three, the Sharks rallied to pull within one on a block by Graham and a Saint Leo attack error.

A great hustle play by Kelly McMahon (So., Madison, Wis.), Ruiz and Yony made it 23-22. With the Lions at match point, Graham and Ruiz put together back-to-back kills to even the set at 24. Unfortunately, the Lions had scored the next two points to take the match, 3-0.

The Sharks will return back to Fort Lauderdale to host Florida Tech on Friday at 7 p.m. for its annual Dig Pink match and the face Lynn on Sunday at 2 p.m.