CLEVELAND, Tenn.- With freshman Sara Palumbo leading the way, the Lee University volleyball team closed out a five-game home stretch with a 4-1 record and improved to 7-4 in Gulf South Conference play and 13-10 overall. Visiting Christian Brothers University dropped to 2-8, 6-14. The Lady Flames will return to road action on Friday and face University of Montevallo (7 p.m.).

Lee won the first two sets in convincing style, 25-18, 25-14 before the Bucs bounced back and claimed set three 25-21. The fourth set went back and forth before the Lady Flames claimed the 3-1 victory, 25-19.

Palumbo helped carry her teammates with 21 kills and a .396 attack mark. She finished with a double-double (12 digs) and also added a career high five aces. Sophomore Jada Whital joined in with nine kills and a .269 attack percentage. She joined Naomi Hockless with a team-leading four blocks. Hockless also had seven kills.

Berra Soyler dished off 23 assists and Madison Dahl added 19. Playing in a limited role, Carmen Perez finished with 10 digs and a pair of aces. All totaled, Lee had eight aces to five for CBU. Izzy Denton was the dig leader for the Lady Flames with 15. Payton Danley finished with nine kills and three blocks while Brynna Sands also had three blocks as Lee completed the contest with 16 total blocks, while the Bucs had only five.

Calah Jackson and Ella Schumacher were the Christian Brothers kill leaders. Jackson tallied 15 and Schumacher 14. Sarah Allyn Thornell had 39 assists and 10 digs in producing a double-double. Tia Rizvi contributed seven kills and was the dig leader with 12. The Bucs finished with 53 digs to 60 for the Lady Flames.  

Coach Christa Fabre's Thoughts:

"It was a good thing tonight to get the freshman a lot of playing time. At one point five of the six players on the court were freshman. I wish we would have handled the third set a little differently but we had a little change tonight. with some players resting nagging injuries. I think we could have competed a little harder in that third set."

"Sara was awesome tonight. She had 21 kills and almost hit .400 so it was a big night. Our match looks a lot different if we don't have her."

"Excited to watch our team compete this weekend. We lost in five sets to Montevallo last time and if we compete we can get a win."