MIAMI SHORES, Fla. -- Barry University's volleyball team was able to get off to a quick start early by jumping all over the Saint Leo Lions Friday. And the Buccaneers felt like they merely had the advantage going into the second set. However, the Lions had other ideas, and ended up winning the next couple sets. That forced the Buccaneers to win the last two sets to claim the match outright, 25-20, 21-25, 16-25, 25-21, 15-12 for Barry's first Sunshine State Conference victory of the season.
 
The Buccaneers (3-3, 1-1 SSC) were trying to get a bitter taste out of their mouth after dropping a four-set match to Palm Beach Atlantic last weekend. This match was a confidence builder in that the Bucs were trying to stop a two-game losing streak. Now Barry has the opportunity to ride this emotional win into Saturday's 4 p.m. home match with Eckerd.

Trailing 2-1 in the match, the Buccaneers used a kill by Katie Dooley to take a 20-19 lead in the fourth set. Barry won four of the last five points, highlighted by three Kaitlin Drake kills to tie the match at two sets apiece.

In the decisive set, Saint Leo's Anna Siruckova, who finished with 23 putaways, had a kill to pull the Lions within 11-10. But Eva Raat's counterpunch kill on the ensuing serve cushioned the Buccaneers lead back to two. Barry won three of the last four points, including two kills by Drake to seal the win.

The Buccaneers hit .272 in the match. Barry attacked at .406 clip in the opening set and .350 in the fourth. The Lions (6-4, 1-2) hit .247.

Barry senior setter Jasmine Serna had 36 assists and 12 digs. Jenny Trinidad also chipped in 25 assists and 12 of the Bucs' 75 digs. Drake pounded 20 kills, and Ivana Didanovic had 15 kills and three blocks. Raat finished with 17 kills and a solo block. Brittany Jaco had 21 digs. Kat Espinosa played a key role defensively, picking up 15 digs.

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