FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – It took one set for the Sharks offense to get the ball rolling as the Nova Southeastern volleyball team downed the visiting Saint Leo Lions in four sets (19-25, 25-19, 25-22, 25-13) on Friday evening in the Rick Case Arena. As a team, the Sharks hit .323, their second-best outing of the season.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
FINAL: W, 3-1 (19-25, 25-19, 25-22, 25-13)
RECORDS: Nova Southeastern Sharks (15-11, 7-8 SSC), Saint Leo Lions (18-9, 9-7 SSC)
LOCATION: Rick Case Arena | Fort Lauderdale, Fla.  
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HOW IT HAPPENED:
 
SET 1 | Despite an early 5-3 lead by the Sharks, the Lions were in control throughout a majority of the first set. After an NSU timeout called at 19-14 with SLU ahead, a 4-1 run by the Sharks made it a two-point game at 20-18. NSU was able to get within two again at 21-19, but a 4-0 run by Saint Leo closed the set with the Lions on top 25-19.
 
SET 2 | The Sharks jumped ahead with a 3-0 start, before a 5-1 run gave the visitors a 5-4 lead. Kills by McKenna Tucek and Gabby Bauch gave the Sharks back the lead, 6-5. From there, the game saw five ties before back-to-back kills by Ally Ford forced the Lions to use their first timeout. NSU continued to put on the pressure, forcing consecutive errors by SLU's Michelle Cuervo as Saint Leo used their final timeout. The Lions were able to come within two at 19-17, but that would be as close as they would get as a 6-2 run capped with a kill by Tucek ended the set with a 25-19 NSU win, evening the overall score.
 
SET 3 | NSU proved their resiliency in the third set, overcoming an 18-12 deficit to start their rally. A kill by Ford sparked a 4-0 run to make it a two-point game at 18-16, costing SLU one of their timeout. The Lions responded with a 3-0 run, extending their lead to 21-16, and forcing NSU to use a timeout of their own. Something clicked in that huddle, as the Sharks came out to put up back-to-back huge blocks by Ford/Brittany Landrum and Landrum/Tucek, as Saint Leo used their last timeout. That didn't stop NSU, however, as a 6-0 run capped with a kill by Tucek made it set-point in NSU's favor, 24-21. The Lions were able to score once more before another kill by Tucek finished it with the Sharks earning a 25-22 remarkable set-three win.
 
SET 4 | The Sharks used that same momentum in the fourth set, grabbing a 9-5 lead thanks to a 5-0 run which included two aces by Aleyna Kennel. After an SLU timeout, the Sharks continued on a 6-2 run to extend their lead out to 15-7, leaving Saint Leo with no more timeouts. At 18-12, a kill by Ford ignited a 7-1 run by Nova Southeastern to give the home team a 25-13 overwhelming win the overall victory.
 
INSIDE THE STATS:
 

• The Sharks had four players with double-digit kills and four who hit above .400.
• Leading the pack was Ford, who finished with 14, adding seven digs, two aces and four blocks.
• Alex Boone and Tucek each registered 11 kills, hitting .450 and .471, respectively.
• Sippel tacked on 10 kills and made nine digs while Gabby Bauch had nine kills and two blocks. Bauch also hit .471.
• Landrum finished with a team-high eight blocks and had three kills and three digs.
• Kennel picked up 10 digs and had a team-high three aces.
• Madison Cook handed out 28 assists, made seven digs and dished out two aces, while Caylee Cox totaled 24 assists.

 
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:
 

• Tucek's .471 hitting percentage was a season-best.
• Today's win brings the overall series to 29-22 in favor of the Lions.

 
UP NEXT
 
The Sharks will play once again in the friendly confines of the Rick Case Arena on Saturday afternoon. NSU will host Tampa in a revenge match at 3:00 p.m. after falling to the Spartans earlier this season.
 
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Follow along with live updates on Twitter by following @NSU_VBALL.