HOOVER, Ala. – The Lee University volleyball team dropped a pair of matches on Friday at the Gulf South Conference/Sunshine State Conference crossover tournament at the Finley Center.

The Lady Flames lost their first match of the day, 3-0, to Embry-Riddle before falling in the nightcap, 3-0, to Nova Southeastern.

In their first match, Lee kept it close with the Eagles, until a, 7-1, run pushed Embry-Riddle out to an, 18-12, lead before claiming the set, 25-21.

The Florida club then rolled in the second set to a, 25-10, victory. The two teams were tied at 10 before the Lady Flames claimed four straight points to jump out with an advantage. The Eagles answered by scoring the next seven out of eight and held on for the, 25-20, set to claim the match.

Allie Whittinghill paced Lee with six kills and Abby Stroh and Macy Petty had four kills each. Ashton Middleton recorded eight assists and Clarissa Soza pitched in with seven. Grace Mazzocca posted six blocks and Middleton recorded nine digs to pace the defense. 

Cameron Gilleland led the Eagles with 12 kills and recorded eight digs. Jaden McBride led all players with 11 digs.

Lee kept it close in the day's final match with Nova Southeastern falling, 25-22, 25-17, and 25-20.

It was all knotted up at 20 in the opening set before the Sharks went on a, 5-2, run to claim the set. The Sharks then jumped out to an early lead in the second frame and never looked back, taking a, 2-0, lead. The Lady Flames answered by winning the first six of nine points and stretched it to a, 12-7, edge. Nova responded tying it up at 16 before going on an, 8-4, spurt to wrap up the sweep.

Hannah Upton put down eight attacks for points and Stroh had seven kills of her own. Middleton was given 16 assists and Soza recorded 11. Upton made herself known on both sides of the ball pacing all players with 11 digs and Kamryn Halpin finished with nine of her own for Lee.

Bruna Aliva had a double-double for the Sharks posting 24 assists and 10 digs. Jordan Chessar and Kate Mihacevich had 10 kills each.

The Lady Flames will wrap up the crossover tournament in Hoover on Saturday against Eckerd College. First serve is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. eastern.