Sandy Mocs Fall to Lions and Sailfish on Day 1 of Tampa Invite

TAMPA, Fla. - The Florida Southern beach volleyball team faced a tough loss in a rematch against Saint Leo University 5-0 before falling another close match against Palm Beach Atlantic with a 3-2 final in the tri-match to open the Tampa Invite 3.
 
The Mocs (20-4) faced off against the Lions (10-4), who gave them just their second loss earlier in the season. In game two of the day, FSC faced the Sailfish (13-14) for the first time rallying to a 3-2 finale for just the fourth loss of the year. 
 
FLORIDA SOUTHERN 0, SAINT LEO 5
The Mocs faced off against the Lions falling in all flights as the No.1 rematch for Ashli McKenny and Emma Winford was against a new duo as Kayla David and Julia Panko defeated the Mocs in straight sets 21-13, 21-13. Jeanette Henderson and A. Fredette Huffman faced off against FSC number 2 flight this time as Sarah Crocker and Reagan Carlton fell to 21-16, 21-17. The closest match of the day for the Mocs and Lions was at the third court as Hayley St. Martin and Mary Olivia Muti fought in the first set falling 24-22 and 21-13 in set two.  The No. 4 pairing, Christina Ramazio and Sydney Melcher fell to the Lions' fourth court, 21-16, and 21-11. The final court of Jackie Schner and Hailey Carefoot gave the Lions a run but dropped the fifth court with a 21-19, 21-13 decision.
 
FLORIDA SOUTHERN 2, PALM BEACH ATLANTIC 3
The Mocs went on to face off against Palm Beach Atlantic as the two teams face off for the first time. In the first match, McKenny and Winford fell at court one, finishing with a 21-14, 21-17. In court #2, Carlton and Crocker joined up again rallying to force three sets falling to the Sailfish  21-18, 16-21, 15-12. St. Martin and Muti fought hard, taking PBA to the three sets and also finishing with the win on court 3 for a 12-21, 21-19, 15-12 defeat. Melcher and Ramazio rallied the entire way to a two-set win, defeating the No. 4 court with a 28-26, 22-20 win.
 
At the No.5, Schner and Carefoot faced off against Karla Cantero and Julia Norville as the Sailfish defeated the Mocs in two sets, 22-20, 21-18.
 
FSC returns to the sand tomorrow Saturday, March 30 as they look for a rematch against PBA and face host Tampa in the final day of the Tampa Invite 3. The first serve is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.