MIAMI SHORES, Fla. – The Barry University volleyball team (12-20, 4-12 SSC) closed out the regular season with a 3-1 win over the Saint Leo Lions at the Health & Sports Center on Saturday afternoon. The Buccaneers lost the first game 30-22, but then came back to win the final three games 30-22, 30-19 and 30-26.
After sitting out the last three matches with an injury, Camilla Pagnan’s return to the Buccaneer lineup proved to be a valuable asset. She recorded a match-high 22 kills, hit a .500 clip and collected 12 digs to pace the Bucs.
Saint Leo managed to take a one-game lead after the first set with a 30-22 win. The Lions recorded 16 kills on 33 attempts without an error and recorded a blistering .485 team hitting percentage for the advantage. After a 12-12 tie, the Buccaneers outscored Saint Leo 18-10 down the stretch to win game two by the same score, 30-22.
The Buccaneers took that momentum into game three and cruised to a 30-19 win for a 2-1 match advantage. Senior setter Maria Romanowski recorded 15 assists and directed the Buccaneer attack to a .314 clip in the third frame.
Pagan led the final charge in game four with seven kills as Barry went on to win 30-26 to close out the season with a 3-1 win over the Lions. Despite Saint Leo hitting a .344 team percentage in the set, Barry recorded a blazing .552 clip to end the match.
Lauren Evans recorded 12 digs in the match to finish the season with a Barry single-season record of 589 digs. She is the first player in school history to eclipse 500 digs in a season and her 1,186 career digs ranks second all-time in Barry history, just 17 behind career-leader, Cindy Yuan who was a three-time SSC Player of the Year for the Bucs.
Romanowski recorded 56 assists and 11 digs for her 11th double-double performance of the season. She closed out her two-year career with the Bucs with 2,694 assists, which ranks fourth among Barry career leaders, and 24 double-doubles (assists/digs).
For the first time this season, the Bucs had a pair of 20-kill performances. In addition to Pagnan’s 22, sophomore Caitlin Shawver recorded a career-high 20 kills and a .317 hitting percentage. Stefanie Sveiven finished with 10 kills, while Julie Priester added 11 digs.
Kaitlin McKenna paced the Lions with a team-high 12 kills, while Michelle Nogueras dished out 40 assists.
The Buccaneers conclude their 2007 campaign with a 12-20 overall record and 4-13 mark in the Sunshine State Conference.
Barry def. Saint Leo 22-30, 30-22, 30-19, 30-26
Saint Leo (24-13, 6-10 SSC) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Kaitlin McKenna 12-0-2; Audrey Starkebaum 8-1-2; Natalie Gaudreau 7-0-0; Jenna Jordan 7-0-0; Leah Perry 6-0-2; Michelle Nogueras 6-1-1; Emily Frey 4-3-4; Chelsea Armer 2-0-1; Amanda Cook 1-0-0; Jessi Lynn 0-1-0; Eni Lukacs 0-1-0; Totals 53-7-7.0. (Assists) - Michelle Nogueras 40. (Dig leaders) - Michelle Nogueras 9; Amanda Cook 8
Barry (12-20, 4-12 SSC) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Camilla Pagnan 22-3-0; Caitlin Shawver 20-0-2; Stefanie Sveiven 10-0-2; Samara Ferreira 7-0-0; Meisje-Sable Burton 6-3-1; Maria Romanowski 2-0-2; Spenser Rigg 1-0-0; Lauren Evans 1-2-0; Totals 69-8-4.0. (Assists) - Maria Romanowski 56. (Dig leaders) - Lauren Evans 12; Camilla Pagnan 12; Julie Priester 11; Maria Romanowski 11
Site: Miami Shores, Fla. (Health&Sports Center)
Date: 11/10/2007 Attend: 213 Time: 1:49
Referees: Jim Fales, Donna Carter
Photo Gallery (By Scott Moore: SPM FL Photographer: Nov. 11, 2007)