Balanced Effort Leads Volleyball To 2nd Straight Win

BATON ROUGE, La. – Thalia Cordero Moreno and Janiya Chapman combined for 26 kills as TSU won its second straight contest following a 3-1 decision over Southern University Monday night.
 
Set one was tied at 12-all until TSU created separation by taking advantage of several SU errors which sparked a 7-2 run for a 19-14 lead. Holding a sizable lead, TSU closed the door shut as Chenise Cook had a pair of assisted blocks followed by kills from Cordero Moreno and Caitlyn Roland as TSU went on a 6-1 run to win set one 25-16.
 
Chapman and Cordero Moreno combined for five kills which sparked an early 7-2 surge to open set two. The Tigers began to roll from that point as the lead extended to 12-4 behind a pair of service aces from Dallas Balanay-Flores and kills from Jada Hall and Cordero Moreno. Southern would fight back and trimmed TSU’s lead to three points on two occasions but a Cook block and pair of kills from Cordero Moreno pushed TSU’s margin to 20-13. Southern once again refused to go away as they cut the deficit to 20-17 but TSU regrouped and closed out the set with a 5-2 run for the win.
 
Southern would turn the tide in set three as a 14-11 TSU lead withered away following an 8-0 SU run as they led 19-11. TSU would get within three points on two occasions following the run but SU closed out the set with a 25-19 decision.

Southern opened set four with a 5-2 lead and pushed it to 8-4 before TSU settled down and chipped away with five consecutive points thanks to four straight kills from Hall, Amber Johnson (2) and Danielle Lilley. The teams would trade leads until a 3-0 TSU run upped the score to 14-11. Southern would draw within 14-13 after a pair of Kendall Dutton kills but Cook and Chapman answered with kills and a Cordero Moreno service ace to give TSU an 18-13 margin. The Tigers outscored SU 5-3 to draw closer to set point but SU chipped away and drew to within 23-20. Hall had a big kill to stop SU’s 4-0 run but SU answered with a kill on the ensuing possession. The TSU defense stepped up with the game on the line as Hall and Johnson clinched the match with a block for the 25-21 win.
 
Cordero Moreno had 15 kills followed by 11 from Chapman. Aeris Ramsey and Balanay-Flores had 21 and 18 kills, respectively while Cordero Moreno and Caitlyn Roland finished with 18 and 17 digs, respectively. Kyira Porch also added 14 digs along with three assisted blocks from Cook.
 
TSU will have a much-needed break as they’ll return to action on Wednesday, Oct. 6 against SWAC rival Prairie View A&M at 6:30 p.m. inside the H&PE Arena.