Volleyball Aiming to Get Back in the Win Column with Two Matches this Week

LAKELAND, Fla.- After defeating Warner in three sets at home this past Wednesday and then dropping a nail biting five set match against Keiser University on the road Saturday, the Fire will look to bounce back with two matches this week against Ave Maria on Wednesday at home at 7 p.m. and a weekend matchup on Saturday at 2 p.m. in Miami Gardens against Florida Memorial University.
 
As a team, the youthful Fire squad has put together a 10-7 record with a .228 kill percentage, 12.4 kills per set, 16.6 digs per set, and 155 blocks. Freshman Sandy Cao leads the Fire offense with 182 kills and a .275 hitting percentage while ranking in the Top 20 nationally in kills per set with 3.96. Alexandria Postlethwaite also ranks in the Top 20 in two categories as she comes in at No. 15 in service aces (28) and No. 16 in assists (493). Defensively, Holly Kaczmarek leads the team in digs with 274, while senior Jordyn Stiger has registered a team high in blocks with 36.
 
The week will open at home for the Fire as they look to extend their undefeated 6-0 record at home against the Gyrenes. The history book between these two schools shows a 20-7 all-time record in favor of the Fire and an 11-3 home record with their last meeting coming in the 2020 season when the Gyrenes swept the Fire 3-0 in Ave Maria, Fla. So far in the 2021 season, the Gyrenes have gone 9-5 and are coming off a 3-1 victory over Webber International. The Ave Maria squad averages 12.9 kills per set, 16.8 digs per set, and holds a kill percentage of .225. Madelyn Hall leads the team in kills and blocks with 136 kills and 44 blocks while Lily Witkoski ranks top 25 nationally in assists (460) and assists per set (10).
 
The Fire will then travel south to Miami Gardens, Fla. to take on the Lions of Florida Memorial on Saturday at 2 p.m. In 32 total matchups, the Fire has dropped only three to the Lions including the most recent meeting last season when the Lions took a 3-0 match in Miami. So far, the Lions have recorded a 3-3 record and average 11.2 kills per set and 13.4 digs per set. Sammyra Albarran leads the Lions in kills with 66 while Augustina Busque has recorded a team high 98 assists.
 
Tickets for Wednesday's home game can be purchased at southeastern.universitytickets.com.