WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Southeastern Volleyball opened the 2026 campaign in statement fashion Friday at the Keiser Summer Classic, earning a 3-0 sweep of Florida National before knocking off three-time defending national champion and No. 3-ranked Indiana Wesleyan in a stunning five-set upset. 

Match One: Southeastern 3, Florida National 0

• (25-23, 25-23, 25-11)

The Fire opened the 2026 campaign with a tight battle against Florida National, grinding out a pair of 25-23 victories before slamming the door shut with a dominant third set. 

The season opener began with both sides trading points through 11 ties. Southeastern gained its first multi-point edge when back-to-back service aces from Mallori Grey sparked a run to push the Fire ahead 13-11. A Laura Bonomi kill later extended the advantage to 15-12 and forced an FNU timeout. 

Florida National battled back to even the score at 15-15, but Bonomi continued to deliver from the outside to keep SEU within striking distance. With the set tied at 23-23, the Fire executed under pressure as Bonomi put down a kill off a set from Haven Speer to bring up set point before an FNU attack error sealed the opening frame, 25-23. 

The second set saw FNU establish an early rhythm, taking advantage of several Fire attack errors to build a four-point advantage midway through the frame. SEU remained composed, leaning on its back-row defense from Marina Santos and Miliani Avila-Bauzo to extend rallies and chip away at the deficit. 

Down late, Ashley Downs helped steady the offense, distributing to Lucrezia Ceroni and Beatriz Cornachini in the middle as the Fire pulled even at 21-21. After the teams traded kills to reach another 23-23 tie, Bonomi then connected for the go-ahead point before Santos slammed home the set-winner for another 25-23 victory and a commanding 2-0 match lead. 

With momentum firmly on their side, the Fire controlled the final set from the opening serve. SEU raced out to an 8-2 advantage behind strong serving and disciplined play at the net from Jewel Carling and Joyce Crosby. 

The Fire hit a match-high .281 in the third set while holding Florida National to just three kills. A late 7-1 surge, highlighted by a Bonomi service ace and a finish from Ceroni, put the match out of reach as the Fire closed out the sweep with a 25-11 victory. 

Top performers

• Laura Bonomi: 14 kills, .256 hitting percentage, nine digs, three service aces

• Marina Santos: Eight kills, .353 hitting percentage, 15 digs

• Haven Speer: 19 assists

• Mallori Grey: 14 digs, three service aces

Match Two: Southeastern 3, No. 3 Indiana Wesleyan 2

• (14-25, 25-11, 16-25, 25-21, 15-6)

The three-time defending national champions set the tone early, using strong play at the net to force a Fire timeout with IWU leading 7-3. Bonomi and Santos provided early side-out opportunities, but the Wildcats capitalized on a late 6-1 run to pull away and claim the opening set. 

The Fire responded with a complete turnaround in the second. Grey jump-started an early 8-2 surge from the service line, while setters Speer and Downs spread the offense to Ceroni and Cornachini in the middle. SEU held the Wildcats to a negative hitting percentage in the frame and rolled to a 25-11 victory to even the match. 

IWU swung the momentum back in its favor in the third, breaking open an 8-8 tie with a 7-1 run. Jillian Zoerman entered the match and recorded the first kill of her collegiate career, while Avila-Bauzo came up with several key digs to spark a Fire rally. The Wildcats answered with strong offense, taking the set and move SEU to the brink. 

The fourth frame featured seven ties and three lead changes before the Fire seized control. Trailing 18-17, SEU mounted a decisive 5-1 run powered by back-to-back Bonomi kills and a key block touch from Ceroni. Santos delivered another big swing late to put Southeastern ahead 24-21 before an IWU error helped send the match to a deciding fifth set. 

The Fire took control of the fifth from the opening point, racing out to a 8-3 advantage. Speer then connected with Bonomi and Ceroni for consecutive transition points as SEU closed the match with a 7-3 run to complete the top-five upset. 

The victory gives SEU an immediate signature win to begin the 2026 season, taking down the three-time defending national champions on the opening day of competition. 

Top Performers

• Laura Bonomi: 20 kills, 13 digs, four assists, one service ace

• Marina Santos: 19 digs, eight kills, two service aces

• Haven Speer: 36 assists, one service ace

• Miliani Avila-Bauzo: 14 digs, four assists

Up Next

Southeastern will play at Morningside in the Gold Bracket Semifinal, in a battle of unbeatens for a spot in the finals at 4 p.m..