Lady Tigers Fight Back To Win Home Opener

Playing on their home court for the first time in 2019, the Texas Southern volleyball team fought back to win a 3-2 decision over Arkansas-Pine Bluff Monday night.
 
“Coming out of homecoming, that’s a tough thing to do,” said head coach Jocelyn Adams. “Offensively we started slow and then by the end we caught up and were able to close out the match.”
 
Set one saw UAPB rally from a 20-16 deficit as they defeated TSU 27-25. In the latter stages of the set, TSU was its own worst enemy with a total of eight errors as UAPB took advantage and snuck back in for the win.
 
In set two, both teams went back-and-forth with TSU claiming a 19-17 margin after Jada Hall’s kill but UAPB went on a 6-0 run led by Kaila Robinson’s three kills. Down 23-19, TSU took advantage of a pair of UAPB errors and two kills from Danielle Lilley to knot the contest back at 24-all. Both teams would trade errors while tied at 25 as UAPB would move ahead 26-25 after a Tiger block error. Alexis Austin fought back and knotted the contest at 26-all with a kill which set up a perfect ending as Atira Jells closed out the set with consecutive service aces.
 
UAPB controlled game three from the beginning as they jumped out to an 8-2 advantage. TSU would close to within 15-12 and 23-20 but the Golden Lions once again benefited from a service and attack error to close out the set 25-20 and take a 2-1 lead. Set four saw TSU break open the set as a 6-6 tie turned into a 16-7 surge en route to a 22-13 lead. Once again, errors allowed UAPB to creep back into the match but TSU closed out the set with a 25-20 advantage.
 
In the deciding set, both teams continued to trade points until Austin’s kill and Breyanna York’s service ace gave TSU a 9-7 lead. TSU would hold on and claim the match as they outscored UAPB 6-4 from that point behind a team effort.
 
Freshman Danielle Lilley led TSU with a career-high 24 kills followed by 14 from Alexis Austin and 11 by Atira Jells. Alyssa Chuidian (30) and Breyanna York (29) combined for 59 assists with Jells also adding four blocks. Valencia Grayson led all defenders with 21 digs.
 
Texas Southern will have extended time off as they won’t return to action until Oct. 25 at the SWAC East Round-up in Jackson, Miss.