Lady Tigers improve to 4-0 in SWAC play with sweep at Jackson State

JACKSON, Miss. – The Texas Southern Lady Tigers completed their weekend road trip to Mississippi with a three-set sweep Saturday at Jackson State.
 
Scores of the match were 25-20, 27-25, and 25-21.
 
Texas Southern's Lady Tigers (8-7) claimed their sixth consecutive victory with the win over Jackson State, and improved to 4-0 in Southwestern Athletic Conference play.
 
The Lady Tigers of Jackson State saw their record fall to 1-13; JSU is 1-2 in SWAC play.
 
Freshman outside hitter Alexis Austin knocked down 11 kills to lead TSU, setting a season best for kills in a three-set match. Austin also reached 11 kills two weeks ago in a non-conference matchup against Prairie View A&M in San Antonio.
 
TSU's Kali Fluke added 10 kills for the visiting Lady Tigers, while senior middle blocker Ashlynn Caldwell knocked down a season-high eight kills for visitors.
 
Fluke's 10-kill performance marked the ninth time in 15 matches this season in which she has recorded 10 or more kills. She also tallied eight total blocks Saturday – three solo and five assisted.
 
Asia Howard handed out 21 assists for Texas Southern, while teammate Brianna McKay led the defensive effort with nine digs. Allison Woods picked out seven digs for the visitors.
 
Alexxi Howell and Tamisha Berry knocked down seven kills apiece for Jackson State.
 
Texas Southern withstood its biggest test in set two, as Jackson State jumped out to an early 7-3 lead, and led by as many as five points at 14-9. TSU responded by scoring six of the next seven points to tie the set at 15-15.
 
The set proceeded to go back and forth, with Jackson State serving set point twice, only to be turned back by TSU both times. Trailing 24-23, the visitors staved off the loss with a kill from Fluke.
 
After a service error gave JSU a 25-24 lead, the visiting Lady Tigers again fended off the loss, this time with one of Cassidy Jannson's five kills. TSU then scored the next two points to take the set, successfully blocking Jackson State attacks for each of its last two points; Fluke and McKay blocked a shot from JSU's Desiree Mack to take a 26-25 lead, while Fluke and Howard secured the set-winning point with another block of Mack.
 
The visitors seized control of the third set with an 8-2 run that turned a 13-11 deficit into a 19-13 lead. TSU would not allow Jackson State within two points for the remainder of the set and match.
 
Nicole Robinson knocked down six kills for Texas Southern, while her teammates Ellena Torres and Breyanna York handed out seven assists and six assists, respectively.
 
The Lady Tigers return to action Tuesday when they host Houston Baptist in a non-conference match at TSU's H&PE Arena. First serve is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.