BOCA RATON, Fla.- The Daemen College women's volleyball team played their first two matches of the season at the Courtyard by Marriott Invitational tournament today. The Wildcats finished Friday with an 0-2 mark at the tournament, falling in four sets (15-25, 17-25, 25-21, 11-25) to St. Leo University in the opener, and again losing in four sets (14-25, 25-19, 17-25, 24-26) to the University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez in their second match.
 
St. Leo set the pace early against Daemen, winning the first two sets (25-15, 25-17). Daemen was able to take a set when they won the third (25-21), but were unable to complete the comeback as SLU took the final set to the tune of 25-11 to close out the match.
 
Kaley Vazquez (Kenmore, N.Y./Kenmore West) and Ye Wang (Beijing, China/Hachioji Jissen) were the bright spots of the Wildcats' match against St. Leo. Vazquez paced the team with 17 assists, and Wang led the Wildcats with 13 kills. Brittany Anthon (Lancaster, N.Y./Lancaster) and Paige Tilert (Derby, N.Y./Genesee CC) each had a team-high nine digs. Unfortunately, a .142 team hitting percentage doomed Daemen against St. Leo.
 
St. Leo was led to victory on the strength of standout performances from Meaghan Donovan and Jaclyn Mailoto. Donovan had a team-best 11 kills, and Mailoto served up a whopping 40 assists. Lauren Campbell, Jillian Stolzenburg, and Tawni Warren each had 10 kills apiece, and Warren tied with Yaidimar Santiago for the team lead in digs, with each putting up nine in that category.
 
Daemen had a better overall performance against UPR-Mayaguez in their second match, which ended in a hard-fought fourth set that saw the Wildcats fall 24-26. After a 14-25 defeat in the first set, the Wildcats battled back to win the second set 25-19. However, UPR-Mayaguez would take the next two sets, and the match. Maria A. Rodriguez, Marjorie Rodriguez and Cristina Cruz Ortiz led the charge for the Janes. Maria A. had 19 kills, Marjorie had 23 assists, and Ortiz posted 19 digs - all team-highs.
 
Lindsay Nowak (Hamburg, N.Y./Immaculata) posted a team-high 14 kills, while Chelsea Turcer (Alexander, N.Y./Alexander Central) and Tilert paced the Wildcats with 22 assists and 19 digs, respectively. Vazquez racked up a solid overall stat line, with 19 assists and 10 digs. Wang had 11 kills, and Anthon added 10 digs. However, Daemen was once again undone by a low hitting percentage, as the team finished with a .192 mark in that category.
 
Daemen will face Fort Valley State University and tournament host Lynn University tomorrow (Sept. 14)  to close out the tournament.