Volleyball Drops SWAC Cluster Finale After Hard-Fought 3-2 Match Against Alabama A&M
TSU came out on fire to open set one with a 7-0 lead and extended it to a 13-3 margin but Alabama A&M would fight back and narrow the deficit to 22-20 until an Amber Johnson kill gave TSU a 23-20 lead. Aeris Ramsey scored a service ace followed by Janiya Chapman’s kill for a 25-20 win in set one.
The Tigers led 6-4 in set two but AAMU went on a 7-1 run to lead 11-7. TSU would close the deficit to 12-11 but AAMU outscored TSU 6-2 for an 18-13 lead. TSU narrowed the gap to 19-17 but AAMU pulled away as they closed out set two 25-19.
Set three was back-and-forth as AAMU led 18-17 but TSU faltered down the stretch as the Bulldogs went on a 6-0 surge to lead 24-17. TSU would score a point on an AAMU service error but that would be the final point as AAMU moved ahead 25-18.
TSU opened set four 5-0 but AAMU rallied to move ahead 9-7. TSU would tie the game with kills from Jada Hall and Amber Johnson and the duo once again came up big as they moved TSU back on top 15-13. Several AAMU errors pushed TSU’s advantage to 19-15 but AAMU closed the gap to 19-18 after a pair of TSU attack errors. Thalia Cordero Moreno stopped the run with a kill followed by an assisted block from Chapman and Chenise Cook to lead 21-18. TSU wouldn’t look back as they forced a deciding fifth set after winning 25-18.
Set five was full of emotions as TSU led 6-3 but AAMU tied it at 8-all which forced a TSU timeout. The teams went back-and-forth with five ties until Danielle Lilley’s kill moved TSU ahead 14-13. AAMU would tie it again at 14-all and closed out the match as Ashley Jordan had a pair of kills to lift AAMU to a 16-14 win and match point.
Cordero Moreno, Lilley and Chapman led TSU with 13, 12 and 11 kills, respectively. Aeris Ramsey had 27 assists along with 16 from Dallas Balanay-Flores. Kyira Porch had a team-best 22 digs followed by 17 from Lilley, 14 from Cordero Moreno and 11 by Ramsey. Chenise Cook led TSU with four blocks defensively.
TSU starts a four-game homestand next Sunday against Arkansas-Pine Bluff at 5 p.m. inside the H&PE Arena.
Courtesy: TSUSports.com
