SARASOTA, Fla. – The Fire overcame a slow start but returned to form, taking down New College of Florida, 3-1, in Sun Conference women's volleyball action.
The Mighty Banyans started strong on the court and captured the first set, 25-18. SEU held a four-point early lead and increased it to as many as seven (14-7) in set number two. New College tied it at 24 before SEU put the deciding next two points on the scoreboard, as Chapel Cunningham and Sylvia Liszewski teamed for a combo block to even the match at one.
The Fire (18-4/10-2 The Sun) worked its way to a 14-8 mid-set lead in the third and Yarelis Lopez put the set away with a final kill (25-16). After leading the entire fourth set, the Fire saw the Mightly Banyans (6-12/5-7 The Sun) rally and deadlock the score at 22-22. SEU, though, recorded three of the next four points and ended the match, 25-23.
Cambry Pope, Kennedy Jones and Yarelis Lopez all finished with double-doubles. Pope downed a team-high 14 kills to go with 14 digs, four blocks, four assists and a pair of aces. Jones dug 15 attacks to go with 13 kills, three aces, two assists, and a block. Lopez added 10 kills and 10 digs.
Alexandra Postlethwaite made it four Fire players with a double-double at 25 assists and 10 digs. Haven Speer added 12 assists, four digs and three kills. Marysa Connors continued to lead the back row with 25 digs, while Camryn Gebhards chipped in seven kills, two blocks and a pair of digs.
The Fire return to action tomorrow night, when they face Warner University. Match time is 7 p.m..
