Gainesville, FL

Santa Fe hosted NCAA DII St. Leo University in a mid season scrimmage as their final tune-up before Citrus Confernece play starts

The Saints got off to a strong start, brought to you by an Emmy Rowland ace and Selena Placide block giving the Saints to a 4-0 lead in the first set. The Lions cut the deficit to 8-7, but the Saints increased their lead to 14-8 with kills by Mariana Haas and Ife Talabi causing a St. Leo timeout. Emily Geaquinto added a thunderous kill to maintain a 16-11 lead, and a block by Linnea Preston increased the lead to 20-15. The Lions then forced a 22-22 tie and won the first set 27-25.

St. Leo took a 7-2 lead in the second set, but the Saints battled back to go down 12-10. The Lions then went on an extended run the rest of the set, besting the Saints 25-15 in a set two win.

After falling behind in the third set, Preston and Jessica McKee combined for a block to tie the third set 5-5. An ace by Charlotte Mongin put the Saints up 8-6. A back and fourth third set led the match to become knotted at 12-12, and then 15-15 after a Madison Howard ace and Talabi kill. A kill and an ace by Geaquinto put the Saints up 17-16, but not before the Lions retook the 18-17 lead en route to a 25-19 set three win.

The Saints recieve a weekend of rest before they take on nationally ranked Florida Southwestern at home to open conference play on Wednesday, September 17th at 6:00pm.