The FMU Lions (8-6, 2-3 TSC) defeated the Bobcats of St. Thomas University (5-10, 4-3 TSC) in women's volleyball on Tuesday Night. 

In the first set FMU looked lost and unable to side out as Nathaly Alvarez took the Bobcats on a six point run to start things off. Things did not get better for the Lions as St. Thomas build an 11-3 lead.  In typical Lion fashion, FMU would not go away so easily as they were able to tie the score at 21-21 and eventually take the lead 22-21 behind Francheska Rivera's four point serving run. However, St. Thomas' Lucia Alvarez took the Bobcats on a three point serving run to close out the first set 25-22 and give St. Thomas a 1-0 lead in the match.

In the second set the Lions again were slow to get things going again as St. Thomas built a 12-5 lead. FMU took advantage of a service error by the Bobcats' Lucia Alvarez which allowed the Lions to side out and put Yulianna Charris on the serving line. Charris answered with a seven point serving run and put the Lions in the lead 13-12. The rest of the set was point for point and just when it looked like St. Thomas would close out the set with the score 24-22 in favor of St. Thomas, the Lions roared back with 4 consecutive points to steal the set 26-24. The Lions were led in the second set by Sammyra Albarran with eight kills and three aces. 

In the third set it was all St. Thomas as they built a 3-0 lead to start things off and would not relinquish that lead, eventually closing out the set 25-15. "Too many mistakes, too many mental errors, just not enough focus in the third set", said Coach Alvarez. "Volleyball is a game that requires a lot of discipline and we had moments were we lost our discipline". 
 
The fourth set was a momentum changer for the Lions. They were able to capture the first point of the set for the first time in the match. They maintained the lead until the Bobcats tied it at 9-9. FMU continued to play well and built an 18-13 lead behind strong serves and opportunistic volleyball. The Lions took advantage of Bobcats mistakes and miscues and won the set 25-21 to force a decisive fifth and final set. 

With the score tied 5-5, Sammyra Albarran recorded a kill and allowed the Lions to side out and put Yulianna Charris on the serving line. Charris went on a four point run to give the Lions the lead 9-5. However, the Bobcats would not go away as they clawed their way back and take a one point lead at 10-9. The Lions again would build a 13-10 lead only to see the Bobcats tie it at 13-13. The Lions put away the Bobcats with two more points and capture a very hard fought match and earn only their second conference victory of the 2018 season. Sammyra Albarran led all hitters with 22 kills and Jazmin Molina had 23 digs for FMU. 

Catch the Lions in action on Friday, October 5th, at 7 P.M. in the Lions Den as they take on Warner University.