FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. —In the opener, the Saints (1-2, 0-0 ECC) overcame a slow start to defeat Malone (0-3, 0-0 G-MAC), 10-25, 25-22, 25-22, 25-19. Malone came out strong in the first set, using a string of service aces from Helaina Edgar and aggressive net play by Arianna Buckley and Tori Dawson to roll to a 25-10 victory. D'Youville briefly responded with early points from Michelina Estremera and Isabelle Prentice, but a series of errors allowed Malone to pull away.

The Saints found their footing in the second set, rallying behind kills from Gabrielle Dials and Anna Chechelnytska. A service ace from Angelyn Jaramillo helped swing momentum midway through the frame, and Maddie Boglev's late kill combined with a key block from Cameron Ulinski sealed the 25-22 win.

Momentum carried into the third, as Chechelnytska sparked an early 6-2 run with a kill and service ace, and Ulinski extended the lead with consecutive kills. Malone threatened with a late push from Buckley and Jaymes Gilbert, but Dials came through with a clutch kill before Alina Bertens Deckart closed the set with a service ace, again 25-22. In the fourth, the Saints surged from a 9-9 tie to a 17-12 lead, highlighted by kills from Chechelnytska and Ulinski. Ramirez and Dials chipped in late points, and a Malone service error capped a 25-19 D'Youville victory.

The nightcap brought a tougher challenge, as Nova Southeastern (2-0, 0-0 Sunshine State) controlled the pace in a 25-16, 25-15, 25-18 sweep. The Sharks capitalized on a balanced offensive attack led by Taylor Stockman, Brantley Chipley, and Caiden Largent. D'Youville battled to keep pace, tying the score five times in the opening set, but struggled with attack errors and fell 25-16. Ramirez led the way with three kills in the frame, while Stockman and Olivia Aniol helped Nova close on a late scoring run.

The second set opened with promise for the Saints after a kill from Prentice tied things at 3-3, but Nova answered with a 6-1 stretch. Chipley and Largent delivered key kills, and Stockman finished the set with back-to-back points for a 25-15 win. Ulinski added two late kills for D'Youville, but the Sharks' consistency proved too much.

In the final set, Nova raced out to a 4-0 lead behind Chipley and Erika Spankus. The Saints trimmed the deficit to 15-11 on a block from Trinity Foster and an ace by Madison Bradshaw, but Nova's depth showed once more. Largent and Spankus delivered late kills as the Sharks closed the match 25-18.

D'Youville continues tournament play on Friday, Sept. 13, when the Saints face West Liberty at 11:30 a.m to open the Cedarville Tournament in Cedarville, Ohio.