Saint Leo University women’s volleyball lost 3-1 to No. 9 Barry on Friday, Oct. 2, at the Marion Bowman Activities Center in Saint Leo, Florida. Saint Leo won the opening set 25-22 before Barry claimed the final three sets 25-16, 25-23 and 25-18. Alexa Gandolfo led Saint Leo with a career-high 15 kills in the Sunshine State Conference match.
Gandolfo also recorded two digs and one block. Reagan Lyerla and Chloe Danielson added 11 kills apiece for Saint Leo. Lyerla finished with two hitting errors, a .243 hitting percentage, two service aces, eight digs and four blocks, while Danielson posted a .348 hitting percentage, one ace, one dig and six blocks, including one solo block.
Saint Leo Sets Season High in Blocks
Saint Leo recorded 11 team blocks, a season high, but Barry finished with 13 blocks. Emma LeTourneau contributed five blocks, including two solo blocks, and added five kills. The Lions also held a 60-58 advantage in digs.
Giada Solorzano made her second consecutive start at libero and recorded a team-high and career-high 21 digs. Jansen Warbritton tied a career high with 42 assists while adding nine digs and two blocks. The defensive effort helped Saint Leo stay within two points in the third set before Barry closed out the match.
Barry Finishes Match With Stronger Hitting
Barry hit .315 for the match, compared with Saint Leo’s .193. Veronika Eremeeva led Barry with 23 kills and 14 digs, while Valeriya Kozlova added 18 kills and six blocks. Barry improved to 10-2 overall and 5-0 in Sunshine State Conference play.
The loss dropped Saint Leo to 4-12 overall and 0-6 in conference play. Barry secured the match by winning each of the final three sets after Saint Leo took the early lead. The teams combined for 24 blocks, with Barry holding the overall edge.
Saint Leo Hosts Florida Tech
Saint Leo will host Florida Tech at 4 p.m. Oct. 3 in another Sunshine State Conference match. The contest will give the Lions their next opportunity to respond after the four-set loss to Barry. Saint Leo will enter the match at 0-6 in conference play.
FSB Take
Saint Leo produced a strong defensive showing against Barry, setting a season high with 11 blocks and winning the digging battle 60-58. Gandolfo’s career-high 15 kills led an attack that also received 11-kill performances from Lyerla and Danielson. Barry’s .315 hitting percentage and control of the final three sets ultimately determined the result.
Source: Original report