SAINT LEO, Fla. (November 9, 2024) – The Rollins volleyball team got back in the win column on Saturday, winning a thrilling five-set affair at Saint Leo, 11-25, 25-18, 30-28, 23-25, 17-15. The Tars are now 13-14 overall and 4-12 in conference play, while the Lions drop to 5-17, 1-13 in SSC matches.
Lana Gerard led the Tars with 17 kills and added a match-high 12 digs to notch a double-double, while
Molly Norris (12 kills, .409 attack percentage) and
Jadyn Troutman (11 kills, .318 attack percentage, six blocks) also reached double-figures in kills.
Adriana Lopez collected 10 digs while
Natalie Horsley dished out a team-best 39 assists.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Set One
- Saint Leo took an early 9-4 lead and never looked back, running away with the opening set, 25-11.
Set Two
- Set two saw the Tars jump out to a 4-1 lead, but before long the Lions were back in front, 11-9.
- A 3-0 spurt put Rollins back ahead at 12-11, and it spurred what became a 12-2 rally that pushed the Blue and Gold to a comfortable 21-13 lead.
- Rollins easily held on for a 25-18 win to tie the match at a set apiece.
Set Three
- The third frame was highly competitive, with the Tars taking a quick 9-5 lead only to see Saint Leo go on a 10-1 run to pull ahead, 15-10.
- Rollins roared back to tie it at 16, and a few minutes later the Blue and Gold went on a 6-1 run to build a 23-21 edge.
- The Lions then scored three straight points to earn set point, but a Norris kill negated that threat and tied the set at 24.
- Rollins then fought off two more set points with Norris kills, and the Tars earned their first set point after a block from Tess Margio and Makayla Moran made it 27-26.
- The home team stayed alive, but another double block from Margio and Moran made it 28-27.
- After the Lions stayed alive once more, a kill from Horsley and an ace from Jenna Garza secured the set win at 30-28.
Set Four
- In the fourth set, Rollins was in a strong position, leading 20-16, when Saint Leo caught fire, scoring seven consecutive points to take a 23-20 lead.
- The Tars responded with three straight points to tie it at 23, but SLU scored the next two points to take the set, 25-23, sending the match to a decisive fifth set.
Set Five
- Much like the earlier stages of the match, set five was a back-and-forth affair.
- Rollins led 4-2, but before long Saint Leo had pulled out to a 9-6 advantage.
- The Tars then proceeded to win six of the next seven points to go up 12-10, but the Lions responded with a 4-0 spurt to earn match point at 14-12.
- A Gerard kill thwarted the first match point, and a block from Gerard and Troutman staved off the second, tying the set at 14.
- After a Saint Leo kill, Gerard answered back with a kill of her own to fend off the third match point.
- With the set knotted at 15, a Lion attack error gave Rollins its first match point, and the Tars wasted no time, with Gerard putting down the clinching kill to win the set, 17-15, securing the 3-2 match win.
UP NEXT:
The Tars will return home on Friday, November 15, to host No. 17 Lynn at 7 p.m.
Fans can follow the Tars all season long at RollinsSports.com. Fans can also stay up-to-date on the latest #TARnation news by following Rollins Sports on
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