LAKELAND, Fla. -- SEU Volleyball is gearing up for two exciting days at the Palm Beach Juniors Round Robin, hosted by Keiser University. The Fire will play Florida National and Columbia (S.C.) on Thursday at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., respectively. Action continues on Friday against Grace at 9 a.m. and Mobile at 11 a.m.
Every match of the event will be played at the Keiser Student Life Center in West Palm Beach, Fla. Matches will be broadcast live on the Urban Edge Network and Sun Digital Network.
SEU opened the 2025 season with back-to-back sweeps, defeating Point and Reinhardt at home to start the year 2-0.
The Fire were dominant on both ends of the court, hitting .375 as a team while holding opponents to just .103. SEU also doubled up its opponents in kills (91-44) while controlling the serve game with 17 aces.
Southeastern's strong start has already placed the team among the nation's best statistically. The Fire currently rank first in the NAIA in hitting percentage (.375), first in assists per set (14.50), second in kills per set (15.17), third in points per set (19.0), and eighth in service aces per set (2.83).
Bonomi-nated & Connors-tant
The Fire's hot start was highlighted by two Sun Conference honors.
Laura Bonomi was named Attacker of the Week, while
Marysa Connors earned Defender of the Week following their standout performances at the SEU Invitational.
Bonomi's efficient offense and serving sparked Southeastern's scoring runs, while Connors' steady defense anchored the back row. Both played pivotal roles in helping the Fire secure a pair of sweeps to begin the season 2-0. These honors mark the Sun Conference's first awards of the 2025 season, setting the tone for what could be a special year for SEU.
Déjà 2-0
For the third consecutive season, Southeastern has opened its schedule with a 2-0 record, continuing a trend of fast starts. The Fire also began both the 2023 and 2024 campaigns with back-to-back wins, setting the tone for successful seasons that carried into Sun Conference play.
Sun-sational Start
SEU was one of two Sun Conference teams to shine on opening weekend. No. 10 St. Thomas joined the Fire as the league's only unbeaten programs, also sweeping both Point and Reinhardt at the SEU Invitational. The Fire and the Bobcats stand as the early standard-bearers for the conference, combining for an unblemished 4-0 record to start the season.
Heating Up the Furnace
The Fire have built one of the Sun Conference's toughest home environments inside The Furnace. Last season, SEU posted a 7-1 record at home, with the lone loss coming against a nationally ranked opponent. Over the past three-plus years, Southeastern has compiled an impressive 23-4 home record, giving them one of the best home-court advantages in the league.
Polling the Coaches
Before the season began, Southeastern was picked second in the 2025 Sun Conference Preseason Poll, receiving 41 points and one first-place vote. St. Thomas topped the poll with 49 points and seven first-place nods, while Keiser was picked third with 36 points. The Fire were selected ahead of New College of Florida, Ave Maria, Webber International, Warner, and Florida Memorial.
Lopez on Fire
Yarelis Lopez opened her junior campaign in dominant form, leading the Fire with 25 kills (4.17 per set) on a .411 hitting percentage. She added 15 digs defensively and chipped in 3 service aces, proving to be a steady all-around presence. Lopez notched a season-high 14 kills against Point before following up with 11 more against Reinhardt.
Bonomi Brings the Boom
Laura Bonomi was equally impactful, recording 22 kills (3.67 per set) on a team-best .450 attack percentage. She also showcased her versatility by leading the Fire from the service line with 9 aces and pacing the defense with 26 digs. Against Reinhardt, Bonomi hit .579 with 11 kills and served up 7 aces in one of the best individual outings of the weekend.
Connors Keeps It Covered
Defensively,
Marysa Connors anchored the back row with 27 digs (4.50 per set), helping SEU limit both Point and Reinhardt to under .160 hitting. She tallied 14 digs against Reinhardt and 13 more against Point, showing consistency and poise in serve receive and transition play.
Setting the Tone with Connors
Running the offense,
Ava Connors directed the attack with 44 assists (7.33 per set), including a match-high 25 in the opener against Point. She also added 3 service aces, helping SEU control momentum from the service line.
Speer of Influence
Haven Speer complemented the setting attack, dishing out 35 assists (5.83 per set) across the weekend. Her steady distribution and defensive presence kept the Fire balanced in both matches.
Looking Ahead
The Fire head back to the road next week to play three times at the Faulkner Invitational. During the two days in Alabama, the Fire will play Stillman, Reinhardt, and Faulkner.
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