Lady Tigers turn away Alabama A&M in four sets

HOUSTON – The Texas Southern Lady Tigers returned to their winning ways Tuesday with a four-set win at home over Alabama A&M.
 
Scores of the match were 25-16, 20-25, 25-20, and 25-18.
 
One day after tallying the 1,000th kill of her TSU career, senior middle hitter/blocker Kali Fluke knocked down 17 kills to lead the Lady Tigers (10-9) to their eighth win in 10 matches.
 
Texas Southern improved their Southwestern Athletic Conference record to 6-1 with the victory. Alabama A&M (5-15) fell to 4-3 with the setback.
 
Cassidy Jannson tied her season high with nine kills, while hitting .214 for TSU. Nicole Robinson and freshman Michaela Powell tallied seven kills apiece for the Lady Tigers.
 
Sophomore setter Asia Howard (pictured) turned in one of the finest performances of her young collegiate career, recording her second double-double in as many days. She handed out a career-high 31 assists and dug 10 opposition attacks. Breyanna York recorded 13 assists for TSU.
 
Defensively, Allison Woods led the Lady Tigers with 10 digs, while Brianna McKay chipped in 11 digs.
 
Ashundria McNeal led Alabama A&M with 17 kills.
 
The Lady Tigers seized control of the the opening set by scoring seven of the first eight points and led by as many 10 points when they took a 14-4 lead. TSU never allowed the visiting Lady Bulldogs within seven points for the duration of the set.
 
TSU led 15-9 in the second set, before giving up eight consecutive points to allow A&M to claim the upper hand. Terra Brooks served two aces during that span, but the Lady Tigers gave their visitors five of those points on attacking errors – none of them blocked by Alabama A&M.
 
Set three also saw the Lady Tigers start quickly as they jumped out to a 6-1 lead. The Lady Bulldogs would again rally, briefly taking a 13-12 lead. But this time TSU would recover with four unanswered points, two of them on kills by Jannson. The Lady Tigers also scored three of the last four points, with Fluke serving one of her three aces for the final point of the set.
 
In set four, the Lady Tigers only lost their lead once, when Alabama A&M tied the score at two. TSU then used to runs of four consecutive points to take a 10-4 lead, with Robinson and Ashlynn Caldwell capping the run with a block of Courtney Oliver. Caldwell tallied four blocks during the match.
 
The Lady Tigers will have 10 days to prepare for their next contest. TSU returns to action Friday, Oct. 14, when the Lady Tigers host Alcorn State. Match time is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.