Gainesville, FL

Santa Fe College traveled to New Port Richey for their final tune-up game before the start of conference play. The Saints won in five sets by a score of 25-22, 25-19, 24-26, 17-25, and 15-10. This was the fourth time this season that the Saints have played a five-set match and the second in which they have come out on top. The Saints jumped out to a two-set lead heading into the third looking for their first three-set win of the season, but the Bobcats battled back to force two extra sets. With the win, the Saints snapped the Bobcats three game win streak and are out to their best start since 2020.

Coach Bailey Coleman was happy with the effort in the fifth set stating, "I guess we are a 5 set team right now. We need to learn how to finish matches a bit better. We need to get better with our mental game down the stretch, but I am happy we kept fighting and didn't give up down the stretch." 

Mariana Haas led the team in offense with 16 kills, while Kailyn Howard totaled 14. Jessica Mckee stepped up in a big way for the Saints with a career-high seven kills, while leading the team with five block assists and one solo block.

The Saints are back in action on Saturday, September 14th at 2:00 PM against Hillsborough Community College as the Saints open conference play in Gainesville. Hillsborough will come to town as the 16th-ranked team in the NJCAA.