TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Saint Leo's volleyball win streak ends at 22

ADVERTISEMENT

By BART O'CONNELL

Tribune correspondent

Published: November 7, 2009

ST. LEO - Saint Leo scored a groundbreaking victory against Tampa earlier this year, but could not complete the season sweep after losing 3-1 to the No. 8 Spartans on Wednesday in a match that will have an impact on the NCAA II South Region rankings next week.

The No. 12 Lions (25-3, 12-1 Sunshine State Conference) had won 22 consecutive matches, including 3-0 at Tampa (25-2, 12-1) on Oct. 3, before the 20-25, 25-23, 25-18, 25-14 loss. Tampa hit .350 while holding Saint Leo to a .222 clip, and outblocked the Lions 12-8.

While Kaitlin McKenna hit .348 and Danielle Bletso .450 for Saint Leo, Tampa's Melissa Vanderhall was even better, with 20 kills against just two errors and a .500 attack percentage.

Tampa was ranked second in the South Region behind top-rated Saint Leo, which had been unbeaten against region opponents. When new rankings come out Wednesday, that order is likely to flip-flop, but both appear to be a lock to make the tournament and could meet again for a berth in the national tournament barring any upsets.
Saint Leo concludes its regular season with a home match against Eckerd today at 4 p.m., and matches next week at Florida Southern on Tuesday and at Nova Southeastern on Saturday.

SOCCER TO SEMIS: The women's soccer team beat Nova Southeastern 1-0 on Tuesday at University Field in the first round of the SSC Tournament to advance to Friday's semifinal against top-seeded Rollins in Winter Park. That match was not complete at press time.

Against NSU, Chrissy Darwell scored 69 seconds into the contest and it held up as the lone goal of the game. Saint Leo's defense held NSU to just one shot on goal in the match.

GLENN HONORED: Saint Leo men's soccer F Jonathan Glenn was named second-team All-Conference by the SSC on Thursday.

Glenn had nine goals and 21 points for the Lions en route to being named to the second team for the second consecutive year.

EXHIBITION BLUES: Both the men's and women's basketball teams have taken their lumps against Division I opponents in exhibitions during the past week.

Sunday the Saint Leo men lost 95-46 to Florida before a crowd of 8,804 in Gainesville's O'Connell Center. They followed that up with an 84-65 loss at UCF on Wednesday. Guard Jamal Thompson scored 19 points against the Golden Knights in the loss. Saint Leo trailed by 4 at the half.

After beating Central Florida Community College by 12 on Monday, the women's squad fell 89-47 to Division I Jacksonville University on Thursday. Newcomer Gekeela Clemmons had a team-high 12 points. They will play the UCF women Sunday.

The men opened their regular season Friday in Orlando against Southwest Baptist. The women open the regular season Nov. 17 at Stetson.

Correspondent Bart O'Connell

can be reached at

tampasport@gmail.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT