(MIAMI GARDENS,Fla.) -- A nail-biting third set had fans out their sets as Florida Memorial University's volleyball team fought back from a two-digit lead to defeat Warner University 3-0, Wednesday, October 30.

On the eve of Halloween, the Lions hosted the Royals in what would be one of their best comebacks of the season. To begin the match, FMU took a two-point lead after back-to-back kills from freshman Biancaliz Cruz and junior Sammyra Albarran. 

A blocking error from the Lions then got the Royals on the board but another FMU kill from sophomore Dayla Hall put the Lions at a 3-1 advantage. Warner would stay close in points for majority of the first half of the set but a five point run from Florida Memorial gave them an 18-11 lead. The Lions would go another run finishing the set 25-12. 

Set two was more of a challenge for FMU as Warner took the early lead this time but not by much. There were three lead changes to start the match and the points remained within a 2-3 point range mostly in favor of the Lions. Their biggest least came after another kills from Cruz where the Lions led 20-14. They took a 2-0 lead after winning the set 25-21. 

Things took a frightening turn for the Lions in set three as the Royals as they took a 4-0 lead to start after four straight attacking errors from FMU. A service error from Warner got the Lions on the board but they weren't able to capitalize on it posting yet another attacking error. 

Without warning, the Royals were up by seven with just one point on the board for the Lions. Another service error, followed by an attacking error from the visitors garnered two more points for Florida Memorial leaving the score at 8-3 in favor of Warner. 

The next seven points went to the Royals and the Lions struggles on both sides of the ball. A huge timeout sparked a new attitude for FMU who came back into the match with a purpose. The home team fought back from a 12 point lead and brought the game within three, at set point for the Royals (24-21). 

Junior Jesennia Bonilla came into the match and made a couple of key plays that helped the Lions stay in the fight. She finished the match with three kills and a block. 

A kill from sophomore Rachelle Mancinelli and two visiting team errors tied the game at 24. The match went point for point for the next few serves taking the set over the usual 25 point cap. A kill from senior Yulianna Charris and an attacking error from the Royals finally closed out the match, 30-28.

The Lions finished with 41 kills overall and outscored their opponents 54-34 in points. Mancinelli led the Lions with nine kills while Cruz finised with eight and junior Daphinie Correa added seven. Cruz, Correa and senior Ivana Maric each posted three blocks while Hall collected two solo blocks. 

Juniors Francheska Rivera and Alanis Santana each posted 17 assists while defensively junior Keisha Santana collected 17 digs. Cruz and Charris also collected double-digit digs finishing with 16 and 12 respectively.  

FMU travels to Georgia this weekend to take on Brewton-Parker College, Friday, November 1 at 4PM and the College of Coastal Georgia, Saturday, November 2 at 2PM. 

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