ST. AUGUSTINE - Molly Boyd recorded 21 kills, hit .462, and had 14 total blocks to help Flagler College split a pair of volleyball matches at the Flagler Saints Classic Friday at Flagler Gymnasium. Flagler defeated Trevecca Nazarene University 3-1 (25-17, 23-25, 25-13, 25-14) and lost a hard-fought match to Nova Southeastern University 3-2 (23-25, 25-17, 15-25, 25-23, 15-11).
In the opening set of the match, Flagler and Trevecca Nazarene went tit-for-tat until back-to-back four-point spurts for the Saints secured the win 25-17. The second set was similar to the first until the Trojans secured the set win on five consecutive points to end the set, 25-23. The Saints took the third set 25-13 on several runs. Flagler secured the 3-1 win with a 25-14 set four win.
The Saints had a superb offensive performance as multiple players hit for double digits in the balanced attack. Boyd was an offensive powerhouse hitting .684 with her season high of 13 kills. Jordan Berglin secured the double-double with 12 kills and 12 digs. Colby Stempkowski also had a stellar day hitting .429 with 12 kills. Clare Sheedy secured her season high of 40 assists.
Alongside Berglin and Sheedy, Cassidy Bloom had 12 digs as well to lead the defensive effort. The 12 spot by Bloom was good for a career high. The great wall of Saints was back at it in this contest with 18 block assists. Meredith Dixon led the blocking with six block assists, good for her season high. Boyd added five block assists on the afternoon.
The Saints took on the undefeated Sharks in the final game of the second day of the Flagler Saints Classic. The entire match mirrored the first set in a back and forth contest. Flagler took the first set 25-23 after jumping out in front 15-10 and ran with the lead. A five-point run at the end of the second set gave the Sharks the 25-17 win knotting the match at one set each. The Saints had several scoring spurts in the third set to take the 25-15 win. The third set was back and forth for the two squads with the Sharks coming out in front 25-23 forcing set five. Nova Southeastern took the fifth and final set 15-11.
The Saints spread the sets allowing for three players, Boyd, Bloom and Dixon, to secure eight kills. The Flagler squad remained in system for a majority of the contest allowing Sheedy to account for 38 of the 41 assists.
Flagler had quite the net presence with 28 block assists. Boyd nabbed her career high of nine block assists as Sheedy secured her season high of seven. Bloom led the defensive ground game snagging her career high of 14 digs. Lexi Basler added 13 with Sheedy and Amelia Fitzpatrick adding 11.
The Saints will close out the Flagler Saints Classic with their lone game on Saturday coming at 5 p.m. against Belmont Abbey College.
