ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. –The Eckerd volleyball team battled in a highly contested match with Saint Leo Tuesday night but ultimately fell to a hot-hitting Lions team at the McArthur Center in four sets.
HOW IT ENDED
Final: Saint Leo 3, Eckerd 1 (22-25, 25-27, 29-27, 17-25)
Records: Eckerd 17-9 (8-7 SSC); Saint Leo 17-8 (9-6 SSC)
KEY MOMENTS
- The teams swapped rallies in the opening of the first set before Saint Leo took a slight 10-8 advantage. The teams stayed within two points of each other until the Lions pulled ahead by three at 24-21. The Tritons fended off the set with a Sarah Johnshoy kill before SLU took the set at 25-22.
- EC edged out to a 5-3 lead early in the second set before Saint Leo took a 10-6 lead. Eckerd responded with a 5-0 scoring stretch to take an 11-10 favor. The Lions' lead fluctuated between two and three points before the Tritons pulled within one on an Asya Harris kill at 19-18. SLU pulled ahead at 24-22 before an Anna Jungjohann kill and a Sydney Case ace extended the set. The Lions took the set 27-25 following back-to-back kills.
- The third set opened with another tight start before the Tritons took a slight 9-7 edge. A Harris kill ignited a 6-1 run as Eckerd pulled ahead at 17-10. Saint Leo pulled within two at 18-16 before Eckerd rolled off three straight points to go back in front 21-17. The Lions used a late 6-1 run to extend the set after evening the score at 24-24. Eckerd took the set at 29-27 on a Rachel Wisian and Agata Sklepik tandem block followed by a Lion error.
- The Lions took an early 8-5 lead in the fourth set. Saint Leo maintained between a two and four point lead over the next stretch before using a 6-1 run to hold an 18-11 advantage. SLU stayed in front over the remainder of the set and took the match, 25-17, on a Triton error.
NOTES AND NUMBERS
- Case recorded her fifth double-double of the season with 59 assists and 11 digs.
- Harris tied her career-high with 22 kills to lead the Eckerd attack while Jungjohann posted a career-high 17 kills. Jungjohann also hit .378 in the match with only three errors.
- Two of the four sets went into extra points.
- Paula Hoffmann paced the defense with 18 digs while Sklepik added 17.
- Saint Leo hit .328 in the match marking the highest hitting percentage against the Tritons this season.
UP NEXT
Eckerd returns to action Saturday for its final home match of the season hosting Rollins at 4:00 PM.
