SAINT LEO, Fla. - No. 9 Lynn University volleyball bounced back in dominant fashion Friday evening, sweeping Sunshine State Conference opponent Saint Leo in straight sets, 25-22, 25-15, 25-15.
Lillia Neill led the Fighting Knights with nine kills on an impressive .571 hitting percentage, while
Alexia Radulovic added eight kills.
Audrey Shaw contributed seven kills on .385 hitting, while
Lira Pukl Verdel powered the Fighting Knights from the service line with a match-high five aces.
The victory improves Lynn to 18-3 overall and 10-2 in SSC play.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Set One: Lynn 25, Saint Leo 22
- Lynn came out firing as Radulovic and Shaw delivered consecutive kills to give the Fighting Knights an early 2-0 advantage
- The Lions responded with a three-point run to move ahead 4-3, but Shaw answered with another kill to even the score at 4-4
- With the score tied at 7-7, Neill and
Zara Rendic delivered back-to-back kills to put Lynn ahead 9-7
- The Fighting Knights extended their advantage to 12-8 behind a service ace from
Ula Gorjup before pushing the lead to 15-11 following a kill from Radulovic
- Saint Leo battled back with four consecutive points to tie the frame at 15-15, but Neill responded with back-to-back kills to restore Lynn's two-point advantage
- Leading 20-19, Lynn used a kill from Radulovic and consecutive service aces from Pukl Verdel to stretch its advantage to 22-19
- The Lions refused to go away, cutting the deficit to 23-22 before Neill delivered consecutive kills to close out the opening frame, 25-22
- Lynn recorded 15 kills in the opening set, with Neill leading the charge with five
Set Two: Lynn 25, Saint Leo 15
- Saint Leo opened the second set with consecutive points, but Lynn quickly responded with a six-point run behind kills from Rendic and Radulovic, a block from Shaw and Radulovic, and two service aces from Pukl Verdel to take a 6-2 advantage
- The Lions briefly halted the run, but Rendic delivered another kill before Radulovic added one of her own to keep the Fighting Knights ahead 8-4
- Lynn continued to build momentum as Gorjup and Rendic recorded consecutive kills to extend the lead to 10-5
- With Lynn leading 13-9, Pukl Verdel delivered her fifth service ace of the match to push the advantage to five
- The Blue and White maintained control through the middle stages as Rendic recorded back-to-back kills before Neill added another to give Lynn a 17-11 advantage
- Leading 18-13, Lynn continued applying pressure, extending its lead to 21-15 behind a kill from Pukl Verdel
- Gorjup helped close out the frame with a service ace before Shaw delivered the set-winning kill to secure a 25-15 victory
- Lynn recorded 14 kills on .321 hitting in the second set, while holding Saint Leo to eight kills on .200 hitting
Set Three: Lynn 25, Saint Leo 15
- The Fighting Knights carried their momentum into the third set, opening with three consecutive points behind a block from Shaw and Radulovic, a Saint Leo attacking error and a kill from Pukl Verdel
- Saint Leo cut the deficit to 3-2, but Radulovic responded with a kill before a Lions attacking error pushed Lynn ahead 6-3
- Leading 8-6, Lynn used a kill from
Amaya Roberson and three consecutive points to extend its advantage to 12-6
- Saint Leo attempted to chip away at the deficit, but Pukl Verdel and Shaw delivered kills to keep the Fighting Knights in front 15-11
- Lynn followed with a three-point run highlighted by a block from Pukl Verdel and Neill and a service ace from
Clara Maidantchik to stretch the lead to 18-11
- Neill delivered consecutive kills to extend the advantage to 20-13 before Gorjup added another kill to give Lynn a 22-14 lead
- Roberson hammered home a kill to bring up match point before Shaw delivered a solo block to close out the final frame, 25-15
- The Fighting Knights finished the third set with 11 kills on .280 hitting, while limiting the Lions to six kills and a -.115 hitting percentage
FIGHTING KNIGHT STATS:
- Neill led Lynn with nine kills on .571 hitting, committing just one error on 14 attempts, while adding a block assist
- Radulovic recorded eight kills on .158 hitting and contributed two block assists
- Shaw delivered seven kills on .385 hitting, committing just two errors on 13 attempts, while adding one solo block and two block assists
- Rendic contributed six kills, one assist and a team-high nine digs
- Pukl Verdel finished with four kills, a match-high five service aces, six digs and a block assist
- Gorjup directed the offense with 34 assists, four kills on .500 hitting, two service aces and four digs
- Roberson added two kills on two attempts for a perfect 1.000 hitting percentage
- Maidantchik collected nine digs, two assists and a service ace, while Voorhees added five digs
- Lynn finished with 40 kills, 39 assists, 37 digs, eight service aces and four total blocks
- The Fighting Knights hit .256 for the match, while Saint Leo recorded 23 kills on a .086 hitting percentage
- Lynn held a 40-23 advantage in kills, a 37-27 edge in digs and an 8-3 advantage in service aces
UP NEXT:
Lynn will travel to St. Petersburg to face the Eckerd Tritons on Saturday, Oct. 24 at 4:00pm
