Chance For A Big Win Slips Through Hands Of TSU Volleyball In 5-Set Thriller
TSU came out on fire in set one as two kills from Jada Hall fueled a 6-0 run for an 18-12 lead. Grambling State would score on a TSU ball handling error but TSU regrouped and went on a 7-3 run to win the set as the TSU defense came up big to seal the deal.
Grambling State went up 4-2 in set two but TSU regained the lead with a vengeance as Aeris Ramsey logged two service aces along with a pair of kills from Hall as they led 9-4. Grambling State would claw back and draw to within one point on two occasions but three GSU errors allowed TSU to move ahead by a 17-13 margin. Grambling State came roaring back with four consecutive points to tie the game but Hall, Thalia Cordero-Moreno and Danielle Lilley stepped up with points to claim a 20-17 lead. Grambling State had several late threats but TSU closed out the set as Maria Salazar-Gutierrez and Lilley had kills along with a GSU attack error.
TSU would lead 11-8 in set three but Grambling State went on a 9-2 run to lead 17-13. TSU closed to within 17-15 but GSU scored four straight for a 21-15 lead as the closest they would get was four points as GSU won set three 25-19.
Grambling State led 7-3 to open set four but TSU tied it at 7-all before a 4-0 run sent the lead back to GSU. TSU came back with two kills from Hall and a GSU error to narrow the gap to 11-10 but GSU upped the lead to 14-12 after three TSU errors. Janiya Chapman and Lilley stepped up offensively with a pair of kills to move TSU ahead 18-17 as the contest and intensity began to pick up tremendously. However, three consecutive TSU errors fueled a 4-0 GSU surge and a 22-18 deficit. TSU came within two points at 22-20 but GSU closed out the set with three straight points to force a deciding set.
Set five was a roller coaster as GSU claimed a 6-3 lead and eventually a 7-4 margin but TSU tied it at 7-all on a GSU error, Hall ace and Cordero-Moreno kill. Grambling State retook a 9-8 margin but TSU forced three GSU errors along with a kill by Lilley to move ahead 11-9. The lead would change hands twice as TSU led 13-11 before a GSU timeout. Unfortunately, Grambling State scored the first point from the time out and two TSU errors gave GSU a 14-13 lead which they wouldn’t relinquish as GSU’s Tess Reynolds ended the game with a kill for the 15-13 win.
Lilley led TSU with 16 kills and eight digs followed by 13 from Chapman. Cordero-Moreno had 10 kills while Ramsey tallied 27 assists. Valencia Grayson had 18 dogs while Hall had three blocks and nine kills.
TSU is back in action tomorrow versus Arkansas-Pine Bluff at 6:30 p.m. inside the TSU Recreation Center. TSU will honor its seniors also.
Courtesy: TSUSports.com
