By Pat Clines

Babson Park, Fla - The SCF volleyball team (1-1) opened their season with a split in their season opener as they shutout Webber International JV (0-1) 3-0 (25-19, 25-20, 25-20) before falling to Warner University JV (1-0) 3-0 (22-25, 25-18, 25-21, 24-26, 13-15). With the split, the Manatees are now 7-1 against the Lady Warriors and 0-1 against the Lady Royals.

SCF vs Webber International JV:

The first set between the teams was nearly neck and neck. The Lady Warriors went up by as much as six points, but the Manatees refused to be down and fought their way back to the lead as they took the first set off of a tip kill by sophomore Caelan Cook.

Heading into the second set, the Manatees experienced nearly the same, but key digs from Keefe and an ace by Perry gave the Manatees the second set.

Going into the final set, the Manatees started off slow in the first three points after being down 2-1, but a 5-0 run thanks to a Warrior service error, a solo block and kill by Perry and back-to-back kills from freshman Kat Tallo, the Manatees took the lead 6-2 before a timeout was called. The Lady Warriors continued to creep up on the Manatees' lead, but the Manatees remain stubborn towards them as freshman Alanna McCaughey would seal the deal with a final ace to give the Manatees the first win of the season.

Perry and Tallo would lead the way for the Manatees offensively as they each had six kills. Perry added 14 digs, an ace and two blocks, while Tallo added three digs and two solo blocks.

Sophomore Katie Keefe and freshman Charlotte Herman followed with five kills each. Keefe added a team-leading 17 digs, two aces and two assists, while Herman added two digs and two blocks.

Freshman Elise Bakken leading the way in setting as she finished with 14 assists and eight digs, while classmate Morgan McGuire finished with seven assists, five digs and an ace.

Defensively, apart from Keefe and Perry's digs, McCaughey had 13 digs, three aces and five assists.

Cook (three kills and three digs), sophomore Isabella Rebimbas (one dig) and freshman Aleksandra Wrobel (four kills and four digs) also contributed in the match.

SCF vs Warner:

All five sets were non-stop neck-and-neck with both teams exchanging leads. In the end, the Lady Royals emerged victorious in the fifth set off of four straight points.

Herman would lead the way offensively in the second match as she finished with 11 kills, one assist, four digs and two blocks.

Keefe and Tallo would follow with eight kills each. Keefe added a team-leading 25 digs and three aces, while Tallo added five assists, two aces, two blocks and 17 digs.

Cook finished with seven kills and two digs while Perry rounded out the order with six kills, nine digs, one ace and one block., while Wrobel added two digs and two blocks.

Both Bakken and McGuire were one to two digs shy of securing their first collegiate double-doubles in assists and digs. Bakken finished with 22 assists, eight digs and an ace, while McGuire finished with 15 assists, nine digs and three aces.

Wrobel (five kills, one dig and three blocks (one solo)), Rebimbas (one kill) and sophomore Rachel Carroll (two aces and five digs) also contributed in the match.

Notes:

The Manatees opened the season with a win for the first time since 2016.

This was the debuts for McCaughey, Herman, Bakken, Wrobel, Tallo, McGuire and Keefe. Keefe joined as a transfer from Stetson University.

Keefe's 25 digs put her on the FCSAA 25 Dig Club.

Other Sun Lakes Scores:

Palm Beach State (0-2) opened their season in Fort Pierce as they fell to Indian River State (2-0) and Hillsborough (2-0) both by a score of 3-0. The Panthers will head to Fort Myers to take on #1 Florida Southwestern (NJCAA DI), Daytona State (3-2), Hillsborough and Polk State for the two-day Adventures in Paradise Battle at the Beach Tournament (August 25-26).

St. Pete (0-1) opened their season with a 3-0 loss to #18 Eastern Florida State (NJCAA DI) (1-0). The Titans will face Hillsborough Monday night, August 21 at 6 pm.

#15 Gulf Coast State (3-1) opened their season in Rockford, Illinois with the three-day NJCAA Opening Weekend Tournament. They would upset #10 Kirkwood CC (3-1) 3-2 and #3 Parkland College (3-1) 3-1 on day one before splitting day with a 3-1 loss to #4 Johnson County CC (4-0) 3-1 and a 3-1 upset win over #6 Grand Rapids CC (2-2). The Commodores will return to Panama City to welcome Coastal Alabama - Bay Minette Thursday night, August 24 at 6 pm EST/5 pm CDT.

Pensacola State (3-0) opened their season with a tri-match at home before heading on the road. In the tri-match, they would sweep Northwest Mississippi CC (0-4) and Coastal Alabama - East (0-1) by a score of 3-0 before defeating Pensacola Christian 3-1 on the road. The Pirates will travel to Gainesville to take on Lurleen B. Wallace CC, Enterprise State CCand Santa Fe (1-1) in the two-day Best Western Gateway Grand Santa Fe College Classic (August 25-26).

Lake Sumter State (0-2) opened their season in Fort Pierce with two 3-1 losses over Indian River State and Hillsborough. The Lakehawks will welcome Santa Fe for their home opener Tuesday night, August 22 at 6 pm.

Sun Lakes Standings:

North - 

1. Pensacola State College (3-0)

2. #15 Gulf Coast State (3-1)

3. Florida State College at Jacksonville (0-0)

4. St. John's River State (0-0)

5. Lake Sumter State College (0-2)

South - 

1. SCF (1-1)

2. Pasco-Hernando State College (0-0)

3. South Florida State College (0-0)

4. St. Pete College (0-1)

5. Palm Beach State (0-2)

Up Next:

The Manatees remain on the road for the next two matches as they travel to Cuthbert, Georgia to take on Andrew College and Southern Union State College (0-4) in a tri-match Friday afternoon, August 25 at 2 and 4 pm (2 pm vs Andrew; 4 pm vs Southern Union State).