WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- SEU Volleyball continued its strong start to the season on Thursday at the Palm Beach Juniors Round Robin, sweeping Florida National and Columbia (SC) in straight sets during its matches in West Palm Beach, Fla.
In the first match against Florida National, SEU won decisively with set scores of 25-13, 25-17, and 25-22. The Fire showcased an efficient attack with 40 kills and a hitting percentage of .228, while Florida National struggled offensively, finishing with a .010 hitting percentage and committing 23 attack errors. Southeastern's defense was also formidable, recording seven total blocks.
Key players in this match included
Laura Bonomi, who had a standout performance with 11 kills, eight digs, and two service aces.
Emily Maske added eight kills with a .438 hitting percentage, while
Marysa Connors and
Yarelis Lopez each recorded 15 digs. Lopez also contributed eight kills, while
Jewel Carling had a remarkable .875 hitting percentage, tallying seven kills on just eight attempts and three blocks.
SEU started strong in the first set, quickly establishing a 5-2 lead with early contributions from Lopez and Bonomi. Bonomi's service ace sparked a 7-0 run, pushing the score to 12-5 and leading Florida National to call a timeout. Despite some service errors, SEU closed the set at 25-13 with a decisive kill from Carling.
The second set saw Southeastern recover from an early 5-0 deficit. Lopez led the charge to an 11-9 lead after a 6-0 run, forcing Florida National to call another timeout. The Fire maintained their momentum, ultimately winning the set 25-17.
In the third set, Southeastern faced an early challenge but quickly took control, leading a 5-0 run spearheaded by Lopez. Florida National managed to tie the score at 22, but after a strategic SEU timeout, crucial plays from Lopez and a block by
Annelise de Jong and
Lucrezia Ceroni secured the set at 25-22.
In their second match of the day, SEU again dominated, sweeping Columbia (SC) with scores of 25-12, 25-13, and 25-10. The Fire's strong serving was highlighted by 12 aces, and they limited Columbia to a .000 hitting percentage, with SEU's defense recording 44 digs.
Maske led the attacking charge with 12 kills on 17 attempts, achieving a hitting percentage of .647. Bonomi was also instrumental with 10 kills and three service aces, while Lopez added seven kills and led the team with four service aces.
The first set featured a strong start from Southeastern, highlighted by a decisive 7-0 run that brought the score to 11-3. During this stretch, Bonomi and
Marysa Connors were key contributors, with Lopez finishing the set with a decisive ace.
In the second set, the Fire capitalized on early errors from Columbia and extended their lead with Lopez's service run. Maske and Bonomi continued to shine, with Maske securing three consecutive points to solidify a 16-10 lead before closing the set decisively.
The third set began competitively until Southeastern launched an impressive 8-0 run, pressuring Columbia into a timeout. The Fire maintained their momentum and closed the set with a final kill from Maske.
With the two wins, SEU improved to 4-0 overall this season.
The next challenge for Southeastern comes on Friday, as they continue their tournament journey against Grace and Mobile at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m., respectively.
