LAKELAND, Fla.—For two sets on Wednesday night, the Fire volleyball team looked like one of the best in The Sun Conference.
The Fire led 2-0 after 25-21 and 25-13 wins, but dropped the next three (25-21, 25-19, 15-10) to bring an end to a four-game win streak.
Both teams hit incredibly well in the opening set, combining for 33 kills and just nine errors. Individually, senior
Kaitlin Boyd had five kills with a block. Additionally,
Kelsey Morton,
Emily Boehlein, and
Kaity Reed each added four kills as SEU hit .357 as a team in the opening set.
The second set was one of SEU's best of the season, hitting .571 as a team with 18 kills and two errors in 28 attacks. The Warriors struggled, managing just seven kills and five errors on 24 swings.
Things shifted in the third set, with the Fire up 5-2, the Warriors went on a 5-0 run, getting middle hitter Brittany Taksas more involved, helping her finish with a team-best 19 kills and four blocks, hitting .500.
Southeastern made a late charge to try to wrap up the match, cutting what was once a seven-point deficit (14-7) down to two on four different occasions late, but a Webber kill and a Fire error gave the set to the Warriors.
Webber led the third set 8-6 before going on a 6-1 run to led 14-7 with two SEU errors and a service ace making up half of the points. The Fire, once again, tried to make a late charge, getting three aces from Keniah Rivera-Santiago during a 5-0 run to get within three (17-14). The Fire were unable to get any closer as the Warriors took the set to force a tiebreaker.
Carrying the momentum over, the Warriors rushed to a 6-1 advantage in the final set, with three Southeastern errors and a service ace in the first seven rallies. Southeastern was able to answer with a 4-1 run, getting two more aces from Rivera-Santiago and two kills from Reed, who finished with a match-high 21 kills, hit .400, and added 11 digs.
Victoria Salanoa-Sagapolu had three of her 14 kills in the final four points of the match to seal the win.
For Southeastern,
Kiana Sawtelle posted a match-high 17 digs, with Rivera-Santiago adding 13 to go along with her six aces.
Morton added 18 kills and assisted on five blocks. Boyd added 11 kils and three blocks.
Natalie Anderson posted a match-best 50 assists.
The Fire return to action tomorrow night at home against Trinity College.
