(NEW ORLEANS, LA) -- Day two of the Big Easy Blastoff hosted by Xavier University went a lot smoother for the Lions who finished 2-0, Saturday, August 31.
The Florida Memorial volleyball, who were 2-4, took on University of Mobile (Ala.) and Xavier University of Louisiana to increase their record to 4-4.
Game 1 Recap: FMU 3, Mobile 1
After a disappointing first day of competition, the Lions reemerged with new energy and a scent for victory. The first set won by FMU 26-24, was a competitive one. Florida Memorial attacked the ball 42 times compared to Mobile's 41 but were able to produce more kills, earning points from 14 over the competitions 12.
In the second set the Lions took more control of the match, outscoring the Rams 25-19. They finished with 13 kills in that set, five more than their opponents. The score in the third set produced the same numbers just for opposite teams. Florida Memorial had 11 errors that help Mobile come away with a win and decrease their lead to 2-1.
In the fourth and final set of the match, the Lions held back on the errors and played a cleaner game to take the win 25-18.
Key players for the Lions offensively were juniors
Sammyra Albarran and
Daphinie Correa and freshman
Biancaliz Cruz. They each had 11, seven and nine kills respectively.
Cruz also finished with three aces while Albarran added two. Junior
Francheska Rivera finsihed with 37 assists in the match and added two aces and 19 digs.
Also leading the Lions on defense was junior
Keisha Santana who collected 27 digs and senior
Yulianna Charris who added 13. Correa and Rivera each had five blocks in the game while senior
Ivana Maric finished with four.
Game 2 Recap: FMU 3, Xavier 1
The momentum from their first match of the game carried over into the final match of the tournament as the Lions took on host Xavier University (La).
FMU came out strong with a 5-0 lead over the Golden Nuggets to start the first set. Xavier would answer back with four points of their own to bring the lead to within one.
The host team would take their first lead of the set, 9-8, off an attacking error by the Lions. Their lead was short-lived as back to back kills from FMU put them back in the lead which they would keep for the rest of the set.
The Lions led by as much as eight points, taking a 23-15 lead over the Golden Nuggets. Xavier would score two more points but a kill from Correa finished the set 25-17 in favor of Florida Memorial.
Each set after that one became more of a challenge for the Lions. Set two went in favor of Xavier 25-23. While FMU were the first to score points their opponent took an early 5-2 lead.
Most of the set consisted of back and forth points and after four lead changes, Xavier would tie the game 1-1.
Set three went beyond the usual 25 point victory as the Lions fought back from an 18-12 deficit to bring the score back to within one. Xavier had a 24-21 advantage over FMU but back to back errors helped tie the game at 24.
A block by Maric and Albarran put the Lions in game point range and service ace from Cruz sealed the deal. The Lions won the fourth and final set of the match 25-22 after trailing Xavier for most of the set. Albarran scored three of the final five points to help the Lions end the tournament with a victory.
Albarran finished the match with a career-best 24 kills and three aces while Correa finished with 14 kills. Santana collected 23 digs and finished with three aces and four assists. Rivera had a season-high 48 assists and also added 17 digs.
Correa was the only Lion named to the All-Tournament team as she finished the weekend with 55 kills, 11 digs and 16 blocks.
The Lions return to action Wednesday, September 11 to take on St. Thomas at 7 P.M.
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