Texas Southern split a pair of matches to open the 2021 fall season. TSU fell 3-0 to Nicholls State but rebounded with a dominant 3-1 decision over Southern.
Nicholls State 3, TSU 0
Tied at 7-all in set one, Nicholls State went on a 10-1 run to secure control for a 25-16 win. In set two, Nicholls State jumped ahead early but TSU fought back and turned a 20-12 deficit into a 22-19 deficit as Thalia Cordero-Moreno and Danielle Lilley combined for four kills. However, NSU closed the set out as they took advantage of several TSU errors for the 2-0 lead.
The Tigers jumped out to a 6-2 lead but Nicholls State rallied back to move ahead 12-7 in set three. TSU would draw to within two points on several occasions as the set continued but couldn't get over the hump as NSU claimed the match.
Cordero-Moreno led TSU with eight kills and 10 digs followed by eight kills from Lilley. Aeris Ramsey led the way with 13 assists while Dallas Balanay-Flores had 10. Kaitlyn Scroggins led TSU defensively with 14 digs.
TSU 3, Southern 1
TSU bounced back from a set one loss with three straight wins for a 3-1 decision over conference foe Southern on Friday.
Southern led early but TSU bounced back in set one as an 11-7 deficit turned into a 13-11 lead. The lead was brief as SU scored three straight to lead 14-13 but TSU tied it at 14-all after a Cordero-Moreno kill. Both teams went back-and-forth and were tied at 19-all but SU went on a 3-0 run to secure control en route to a 25-20 win.
Tied at 2-all to open set two, Lilley logged three kills to spark a 7-0 run for a 9-2 lead. Southern would close to within three after the run but TSU held on to tie the match at 1-1. Once again, TSU set the tone in set three as two service aces from Scroggins saw them lead 6-2. The Tigers would never look back as they dominated the set for a 25-17 win.
TSU wasted no time in securing control of the match as they dominated from start to finish in set four. TSU opened with a 14-1 run and kept its foot on the gas as they won 25-9.
Cordero-Moreno had a monster game with 15 kills and 18 digs while Lilley followed with 13 kills and 11 digs. Ramsey tallied 28 assists and 15 digs followed by 18 assists from Balanay-Flores. Indyah Rideaux led the way at the net defensively with four block assists.
TSU closes out tourney play at 9 a.m. against Niagara on Saturday.
