SAINT LEO, Fla. – The Shippensburg University volleyball team dropped a pair of matches to open the 2011 season on Friday from the Saint Leo Lion Classic in Florida, losing to Grand Valley State in straight sets (12-25, 24-26, 17-25) and host Saint Leo in four sets (23-25, 25-22, 15-25, 18-25).

Shippensburg travels to Lakeland, Fla. to compete in the Florida Southern Classic on Saturday. It will play Rollins at 10 a.m. before facing off against host Florida Southern at 1:30 p.m.

Grand Valley State 3, Shippensburg 0

The Raiders held close throughout much of the second set before falling behind, 17-11. The team took six of the next seven points, however, to pull within one, 18-17. A kill by senior Libby Woffindin allowed the Raiders to knot it up at 19 all before an attack error by GVSU gave SU its first lead of the match, at 20-19.

The teams traded the next six points before SU grabbed a set point situation with another Lakers attack error to put the Raiders up 24-22. Four consecutive Grand Valley State points, however, ended the set and SU's hopes with a 26-24 decision.

Sophomore Jill Edwards, fresh off a debut season that saw her win PSAC East Rookie of the Year laurels, led the Raiders with 11 kills. Edwards, along with junior Rachel Smicker, led the team with two service aces each. Defensively, sophomore Tessa Bivens tallied 12 digs in the loss, while junior Andrea Heimsoth posted 18 of her team's 21 assists.

Saint Leo 3, Shippensburg 1

The Raiders and Lions battled during the first set, with no team ever holding a lead larger than two points. SU had a 23-21 lead after a Saint Leo attack error, but it failed to score again, succumbing to four consecutive points by the Lions to end the set.

Shippensburg recovered, however, in jumping out to a 6-0 lead in the second set. It hovered around that cushion for much of the set, before Saint Leo stormed back late to tie it at 19 apiece. The Raiders hung on the rest of the way, which included kills by juniors Jenny Pry and Libby Woffindin before a Lions attack error ended the set with Ship on top, 25-22.

But the women failed to capitalize on the momentum in the third set and never gained traction en route to a 25-15 loss. SU opened up an 8-4 lead in the fourth set, but 10 straight Saint Leo points gave the Lions a lead they wouldn't relinquish, as it won the set and match with a 25-18 decision.

Edwards again led the Raiders with 15 kills, while Heimsoth represented Ship defensively with 10 digs. The junior also totaled two service aces, as did senior Lauren Bauer.