MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- The second-seeded Southeastern Volleyball team pushed third-seeded New College of Florida in a grueling Sun Conference Tournament Semifinal on Friday evening, ultimately falling 3–1 in a match defined by extended rallies, high-volume defense, and one of the longest sets played in the league this season. Set scores were 25–22, 21–25, 38–36, and 25–23, with both teams trading momentum throughout a match that featured 133 combined kills and 195 digs.
SEU's attack was anchored by its veteran core, as
Laura Bonomi (18 kills, 16 digs),
Yarelis Lopez (17 kills, 17 digs), and
Jewel Carling (10 kills, seven blocks) led the offensive production in a match that demanded consistency during long point sequences. Southeastern finished with 60 kills and hit .208 as a team, while New College posted 73 kills at a .198 clip.
New College edged a tight first set, but Southeastern answered with a composed second frame. Behind steady setting from
Ashley Downs, who totaled 29 assists, and a strong defensive backbone powered by
Marysa Connors' remarkable 35 digs, the Fire turned a 17–17 tie into a late push to claim set two, 25–21.
The third set proved to be the match's defining marathon. Both teams combined for 160 swings as the score climbed well past 30 on each side. SEU generated multiple set-point opportunities behind timely kills from Lopez, Carling, and Bonomi, while Downs and
Haven Speer (23 assists) distributed efficiently in transition. New College ultimately escaped the extended battle 38–36, reclaiming a 2–1 match lead.
Set four mirrored the rhythm and pressure of the afternoon: long rallies, defensive grit, and a constant exchange of side-outs. SEU built a 20–16 advantage thanks to swings from Lopez and
Emily Maske (nine kills, .364), but New College responded with a decisive 9–3 closing run to flip the frame and secure the match.
Defensively, the Fire posted 93 digs, nine blocks, and four players with at least 16 digs. Connors' 35 digs anchored a backcourt that kept SEU in extended rallies from start to finish.
Southeastern will now wait to learn if its resume is strong enough to earn an at-large bid to the NAIA Women's Volleyball National Championship Opening Round. The 48-team field will be unveiled during the NAIA Selection Show on the NAIA YouTube channel on November 17 at 5 p.m. ET.
