Panthers Lose Tough Battle at Saint Leo

SAINT LEO, Fla. – (Volleyball) Florida Tech fought a tough match at Saint Leo and fell short three games to one. This brings their record to 16-9 overall
and 1-9 in Sunshine State Conference play.

Top playmakers for the Panthers were Sacha Gumbs with 22 kills, Marcela Vasconcelos with 36 assists and Amy
O’Brien with 11 digs.

Leading the way for the Lions was Chelsea Armer with 18, Michelle Nogueras with 50 assists and 16 digs, and Emily Frey, Leah Perry and Kaitlin McKenna had
five blocks each.

Game one got off to a slow start for both teams until the Lions took the lead 12-5 forcing a Panther time out. Tech stayed in the game and narrowed the
deficit to two points. A Gumbs kill tied the match a 20 as the Lions took a time out. There were multiple ties and lead changes throughout
the 20s and into extra points, but in the end Saint Leo won 31-29. Game three found the Panthers with an early lead. The Lions took a time out when they
were down 9-3 after sloppy defense. A Saint Leo run tied the score at 11 after multiple ball handling errors. Tech took a time out at 12-14. The Panthers
came back out on the court steadfast in their determination reclaiming the lead before the Lions tied it up at 15. Tech kept it a two point game until
Saint Leo pulled away in the 20s taking the game 30-23 and leading the match 2-0. Game three found the Panthers in a six point hole. Tech fought back with
Amanda Boyce at the service line to tie the game at eight. Tech gained momentum on a Lion yellow card and forced a time out at 14-12. Tech
maintained control taking their lead to nine. The Lions narrowed the margin to six with solid attacking, but it was too little, too late as Tech stayed in
the match winning 30-21.

Game four started evenly matched until Tech pulled away on Lion attack errors. Saint Leo took their first time out at 7-12. The Lions fought back making it
a one point game at 14-13 when Tech took a time out. The game remained tight until multiple hitting errors had Tech in a four point hole. The Panthers were
relentless in their fight, but in the end Saint Leo took the game 30-28 and the match.

The Panthers will remain at Saint Leo Saturday, Oct. 19 to face Henderson State at noon and Northwood at 4 p.m.