BOCA RATON, Fla. - The Lynn University volleyball team delivered one of its most complete performances of the season on Friday night, sweeping Saint Leo 3-0 (25-9, 25-17, 25-12) inside the deHoernle Sports and Cultural Center. With the victory, the Fighting Knights improved to 17-4 overall and 7-4 in Sunshine State Conference play. Behind a balanced offensive attack led by Nadia Rossi and Lillia Neill, Lynn controlled the match from start to finish, hitting an impressive .372 as a team while dominating the Lions at the net and from the service line to secure their seventh home victory of the season.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Set 1: Lynn, 25-9
- Lynn came out firing on all cylinders to open the match, setting the tone early with a kill from Neill on an assist from Clara Maidantchik
- After a brief exchange of points, Rossi took control offensively, delivering three early kills as Lynn built a 7-3 advantage behind strong setting from Ula Gorjup and solid blocking by Brooke Jackson and Laney Wilson
- Alexia Radulovic added back-to-back kills to extend the margin, while Joelle Alexander steadied the back row as Lynn maintained control at 9-5
- From there, Jackson completely shifted momentum with a dominant serving run, posting three service aces and assisting on multiple kills from Rossi and Neill during a 12-1 surge that blew the set open, 20-6
- Lynn's front line continued to dominate as Neill and Gorjup combined for two straight blocks to bring up set point, and Neill finished the frame with her third kill to secure a commanding 25-9 victory and a 1-0 match lead
 
Set 2: Lynn, 25-17
- The second set opened with a back-and-forth exchange before Wilson and Rossi found their rhythm early, combining for three quick kills to keep Lynn within striking distance at 4-2
- Saint Leo briefly gained momentum behind a service ace and a pair of kills to move ahead 6-2, but the Fighting Knights responded with a 6-2 run featuring kills from Radulovic and Jackson to tie the score at 8-8
- From there, Radulovic and Rossi took command offensively, while Gorjup spread the attack with precision, leading to a 10-8 advantage for Lynn
- The Blue and White broke the frame open midway through with a 7-1 surge sparked by Rossi's powerful serving, which included a service ace and consecutive kills from Jackson and Rossi to push the lead to 17-13
- Alexander added an ace to extend the cushion, and Radulovic closed the door with a late service run highlighted by another ace and a pair of kills from Neill, sealing the frame 25-17 and giving Lynn a commanding 2-0 match lead
 
Set 3: Lynn, 25-12
- Lynn carried its momentum from the first two sets into the third, shaking off an early service error to take control behind crisp setting from Gorjup and balanced hitting across the front line
- Radulovic, Wilson, and Neill each delivered early kills as the Fighting Knights jumped ahead 7-4
- Lynn continued to dominate at the net, Rossi and Jackson powered through with consecutive kills before Alexander energized the team from the service line with an ace and a 4-0 surge to make it 17-9
- The Fighting Knights' blocking unit, led by Gorjup and Wilson, shut down multiple Saint Leo attacks, while Rossi added back-to-back kills to push the score to 21-10
- Audrey Shaw came off the bench to close things out, capping a commanding 25-12 victory with a kill from Gorjup's assist as Lynn completed the sweep in dominant fashion
 
FIGHTING KNIGHT STATS:
- Rossi led a dominant Lynn attack with 13 kills on a blistering .423 hitting percentage, adding a service ace and seven digs for a team-high 14 points
- Neill was nearly unstoppable at the net, finishing with nine kills on .615 hitting and three block assists for 10.5 total points
- Jackson stuffed the stat sheet with six kills, four service aces, and 15 digs for a strong all-around performance
- Wilson added six kills and two total blocks, hitting .500, while Radulovic chipped in six kills, an ace, and a steady presence on the outside
- Gorjup continued to pace the offense with 30 assists, two kills, and three total blocks while contributing five digs and four points
- Maidantchik anchored the back row with nine digs and four assists, and Alexander added two service aces to help keep the Lions off balance
- Shaw provided the final highlight of the night, recording a perfect kill in her lone swing to close out the match
- As a team, Lynn hit an impressive .372 with 43 kills, eight service aces, seven total blocks, and 45 digs, rolling to a decisive 3-0 sweep over Saint Leo
 
UP NEXT:
The Fighting Knights continue their SSC homestand next weekend when Lynn hosts Rollins on Halloween night for a 7:00 pm showdown at the deHoernle Sports and Cultural Center.