DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Florida Southern College volleyball (2-0, 0-0 Sunshine State) swept St. Edward's (0-2, 0-0 Lone Star) 3-0 on Friday at the ICI Center, with set scores of 25-19, 25-21, and 25-15. Florida Southern recorded 14 total blocks, the most in a single match since Nov. 23, 2024, against Nova Southeastern.
With the win, Florida Southern improves to 2-0 at the Bahama House Classic following the victory over Edward Waters on Friday morning. St. Edward's falls to 0-2 after back-to-back sweeps by Missouri Western and the Mocs.
Florida Southern opened the first set by establishing an early advantage, fueled by key plays from
Mel Garrett and
Catherine Sweeney. The duo contributed a block that put the Moccasins ahead 3-1.
Elizabeth McDonald then made a significant impact with multiple kills, helping extend the lead to 12-9.
As momentum shifted, Florida Southern continued to press, with
Whitney Mall and
Ella Kuosmanen combining for a crucial block, pushing the score to 16-12. Despite a brief rally from the Hilltoppers, the Moccasins maintained control, capitalizing on several errors from the opponent.
Nako Sasaki's service ace and a 5-0 run secured the set for Florida Southern, closing at 25-19.
Florida Southern continued their momentum into the second set, starting with a kill by
Bali Coles and an ace from Kuosmanen. The team maintained momentum through a series of opponent errors, supported by effective blocking from Mall and Kuosmanen. The Moccasins capitalized on these errors to gain a slight edge.
As the set progressed, the Hilltoppers attempted to rally with several kills, but Florida Southern's consistent response kept the lead intact.
Brielle Mullen and Coles provided key offensive contributions, while the defense held firm with blocks from Sweeney and Garrett.
The set concluded with the Moccasins securing a 25-21 victory, solidified by decisive kills from Mall and Coles, establishing a strong position moving forward.
Florida Southern seized momentum early in the third set with a strong start, highlighted by Kuosmanen and Garrett combining for a block that set the tone. The Moccasins extended their lead with a series of points, including consecutive service aces by Kuosmanen, contributing to a 6-1 run.
Throughout the set, the Moccasins maintained their advantage, capitalizing on errors from the Hilltoppers while adding crucial kills from Coles and Sweeney. Despite St. Edward's efforts to close the gap, the Moccasins consistently found ways to respond, stretching the lead further.
As the set progressed, Florida Southern continued to apply pressure. Mall's contributions, both offensively and defensively, were pivotal in the closing stages. The Moccasins ended the set on a 6-0 run, securing a 25-15 victory and their second 3-0 win of the day.
Mall stood out with eight total blocks, contributing significantly to the team's defensive efforts.
Ella Kuosmanen made a strong impact from the service line, recording four aces, and also matched Mall's defensive contribution with eight total blocks. Sasaki contributed defensively with a match-high 12 digs.
Althea Morris led the Hilltoppers with 20 assists and 10 digs. Kaylen Lembcke led the team in kills with six.
The Moccasins will face Missouri Western on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. to conclude the 2026 Bahama House Classic in Daytona Beach, Fla.
