Box Score FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern University volleyball team defeated the Saint Leo Lions on senior day, 3-1 (31-29, 25-17, 21-25, 25-16) Saturday afternoon in the NSU Arena at the Don Taft University Center.
The 3-1 match win marks the first time the Sharks have beaten Saint Leo in exactly six years. The last time the Sharks defeated the Lions was on Nov. 8, 2008.
Dana Holger (Jr., Lino Lakes, Minn.) led the team with a double-double on a stellar 18 kills, a .320 hitting percentage and 10 digs.
Sydney Cook (Jr., Miami, Fla.) also held a double-double with 14 kills and 11 digs.
Katie Pyles (So., Denver, Colo.) held a team-high 42 assists while
Candice Johnson (Sr., Chuluota, Fla.) notched a match-high 21 assists.
Saint Leo notched the first lead ofthe night, 8-6, in the first set. The Sharks quickly came back into the game on a three point run off two errors and a kill by Holger. The Lions managed to score three points until the Sharks took the side out that would give them the advantage of the match. On a three-point rally off three Lion errors, the Sharks took a 14-11 lead. Saint Leo regained the lead and maintained a two-point margin until NSU tied the set at 21 on a kill by
Devyn Main (Fr., Port Charlotte, Fla.). A battle ensued as the set saw seven ties on the next 14 points. The Sharks held the first set point on a kill, 24-23, but two consecutive kills by the Lions tied the game at 24. Three kills by Holger kept NSU in the game as back-to-back kills by Pyles and Cook closed the set, 31-29.
The Sharks carried their momentum into the second set. Off a match-high 70% hitting percentage, NSU jumped to an early 10-5 lead and never looked back. A 3-1 run off which included two Lions errors and a kill by Donahue pushed the Sharks to a nine point lead, 22-13. NSU maintained the Lions in a six point stance until back-to-back kills by Cook closed the set, 25-17.
The third set saw two ties before the Lions pulled away on a five point rally for a, 9-4, lead. Saint Leo stayed atop for the majority of the set until the Sharks tied the set. On a four point rally off a kill by Pyles and three consecutive slams by Holger, NSU tied the game at 18 and threatened to take the set lead. However, the Lions scored five more in a row to regain their four-point margin until they closed the set, 25-21.
The Lions pushed their energy into the final set for an early, 10-8 lead. After a timeout, the Sharks gathered for a five point rally on two errors, back-to-back service aces and a kill by Holger to take a 14-10 lead. The Sharks held their highest margin of the set after a three-point rally on two Lions errors and a kill by Pyles. NSU stayed atop until an error closed the set for the Sharks, 25-16.
The Sharks will host their final game of the regular season against Barry, Tuesday, Nov. 11, at 7 p.m. in the NSU Arena at the Don Taft University Center.
