VALDOSTA, Ga. – University of Arkansas – Fort Smith Volleyball split its tournament matches for the third consecutive time, defeating Saint Leo University, 3-1, before dropping the final to Eckerd College by the same 3-1 margin.

UAFS (5-3) will begin Lone Star Conference play next weekend when it visits Lubbock Christian and Angelo State.

UAFS 3, Saint Leo 1 (14-25, 25-18, 25-20, 29-27)

The Lady Lions overcame a slow start in set one to come away with the four-set victory. Saint Leo hit .281 in the first set, but the UAFS defense rounded into form in sets two and three, holding Saint Leo to -.026 and -.022, respectively.

Set two was close until the midway point, when the Lions used a 6-0 run to extend a one-point lead to a 19-12 advantage courtesy of five Saint Leo errors. Saint Leo would make one last push before UAFS scored the final four points.

UAFS took the momentum into set three, jumping out to a 10-5 advantage and keeping that lead for the entire set.

Saint Leo led for the majority of set four, and had a 21-15 lead before UAFS stormed back with an 8-0 run, fueled by two kills and three blocks from middle blocker Chyra Thompson.

As the set went long, Saint Leo took a 27-26 lead. After a kill by Lexy Lewis tied the match, middle blocker Hannah Holland delivered a pair of aces to pull out the win.

Outside hitter Reagan Macha posted a double-double for the Lions, recording 12 kills and 17 digs. Holland added eight kills and Thompson seven.

Thompson would rack up nine total blocks – three solo and six assisted – as UAFS totaled 14 blocks for the match. Holland and outside hitter Savannah Wharton each had five blocks.

The back row was equally as important in limiting Saint Leo to a .080 attack percentage for the match, as four players recorded double figure digs. Along with Macha, libero Jazzlyn Wells led the Lions with 20 digs, while Lewis and setter Chloe Price each tallied 11 digs.

Price recorded a double-double by adding 17 assists. Right-side hitter Courtney Crownover added 11 assists and eight digs.

Eckerd 3, UAFS 1 (22-25, 28-26, 25-18, 25-23)

UAFS was able to hold off the Tritons in set one, but a pair of close sets didn't bounce its way in the tournament finale.

The Lions led 8-4 early in set two, but Eckerd erased the deficit with a 7-0 run. Eckerd then stretched the lead to seven before UAFS used a 6-0 spurt to tie the match at 23, fueled by a pair of kills by Macha. A kill by Holland tied it at 26, but a blocking error and attack error gave the set to the Tritons.

UAFS held a 12-11 advantage in set three, but Eckerd used a pair of 6-0 runs to take a 2-1 lead into the fourth set.

The Lions once again led for the majority of set four, and had a 21-18 lead before Eckerd reeled off three straight points to tie it. UAFS scored the next point to surge ahead 22-21, but the Tritons scored four of the final five points to win the match.

Holland hit .364 for the match with a team-high 12 kills, while Macha added 10 kills. Playing at outside hitter, Lewis tallied eight kills and seven digs.

Price and Crownover once again split setting duties, with Price handing out 20 assists and Crownover 18.

Wells led UAFS with 13 digs while Crownover added 12. Holland had six digs and a team-high five blocks.