MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- SEU Volleyball put together a statement performance Saturday at the Faulkner Invitational, grinding out a four-set win over Reinhardt before outlasting host Faulkner in another high-intensity battle to finish the day 2-0. Behind standout performances from
Laura Bonomi,
Emily Maske, and
Marysa Connors, the Fire improved to 8-1 on the season heading into next weekend's home matchup.
In the day's opening match, the Fire came out swinging, dominating the first set 25-14 to immediately put Reinhardt on its heels. Southeastern hit .216 in the frame, riding the energy of a balanced attack led by Bonomi, who recorded 18 kills on .304 hitting for the match.
The Eagles responded in the second set, taking advantage of SEU's six errors to grab a 25-19 win and even the match. But Southeastern's composure shined through in the third. Tied at 18 late in the frame, the Fire surged ahead on a 7-2 closing run that featured a clutch block from
Jewel Carling and back-to-back kills by Maske to take the set 25-19.
The fourth set proved a grind, but Southeastern's resilience carried them through.
Marysa Connors was a wall defensively, digging out 29 balls to deny Reinhardt's attack. Carling anchored the net with seven block assists while adding six kills, and Maske finished with 11 kills and three blocks of her own.
Yarelis Lopez provided a spark as well, posting nine kills and 15 digs despite heavy swings throughout the match.
Haven Speer set the tone offensively, distributing 24 assists, while
Ashley Downs chipped in 13 more. Southeastern sealed the win 25-21 in the fourth set, taking the match 3-1 and setting the stage for an afternoon showdown with the hosts.
Momentum carried into the second match, but SEU had to dig deep against a determined Faulkner squad in front of their home crowd. The opening set was a slugfest, featuring 14 ties and six lead changes, with neither side willing to concede. Locked at 30-30, a clutch kill from Bonomi and a service ace from
Marysa Connors lifted SEU to a 32-30 win to grab the early advantage.
The second set showcased Southeastern at its most efficient. The Fire hit .179 as Maske and
Lucrezia Ceroni powered the offense, combining for nine kills in the frame. An 8-2 run midway through the set broke it open, and SEU closed strong for a 25-15 victory and a commanding 2-0 lead.
Faulkner refused to go quietly, storming back in the third with a .600 hitting percentage while Southeastern committed nine errors, allowing the Eagles to take the set 26-15 and extend the match.
But in the fourth, the Fire slammed the door. Behind .393 team hitting, Southeastern delivered its sharpest performance of the day. Bonomi once again led the way, finishing with 17 kills on a .333 clip along with two aces and 23 digs. Maske followed with 14 kills on .357 hitting, while Lopez tallied another 14 kills and 16 digs despite taking a team-high 43 swings.
Speer quarterbacked the attack with 21 assists, Downs added a team-high 27, and Connors continued her stellar day in the back row, racking up 18 digs. The Fire clinched the win with a decisive 25-19 fourth set, securing their second victory of the day and moving to 8-1 overall.
Southeastern returns home to The Furnace on Saturday, September 6, hosting Florida Memorial University at 2 p.m. The Fire look to keep their momentum rolling and extend their early-season dominance in front of the home crowd.
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