PINE BLUFF, Ark. – TSU volleyball earned its first win of the season with a hard-fought 3-2 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Sunday evening.
In set one, TSU jumped out to a 9-4 lead but UAPB closed the gap to 11-10. TSU pushed its lead to 15-13 before a 4-0 run aided by a pair of Chenise Cook aces upped the score to 19-13. A 5-1 Golden Lion run trimmed the lead to 20-18 but TSU returned the favor with a 5-1 run of its own to close out set one 25-19.
UAPB opened set two ahead 9-4 but three straight points by TSU closed the lead to 9-7. TSU fought back and tied it at 12-all before UAPB ran away with a 13-3 surge to win set two 25-15.
UAPB once again set the tone early in set three as they led 12-4 but TSU recovered in time to close the gap to 14-10 after a 6-2 run. UAPB scored four straight to lead 18-10 but two kills by Thalia Cordero Moreno brought TSU within 18-14. UAPB scored the next point but TSU refused to back down as freshman Kourtni Collier recorded five blocks which sparked a 9-2 TSU run which put them in position to win set three 25-21.
Set four was another back-and-forth affair as UAPB led 16-14 until a 3-0 run created a 19-14 Golden Lion lead. Brea Rutledge and Danielle Lilley recorded kills to draw within 19-16. UAPB would get within one point of ending the contest at 24-21 but a Rutledge kill and UAPB attack error drew TSU within one at 24-23. However, UAPB logged a block at the end of the set to force a deciding set.
TSU opened the final set ahead 5-2 but UAPB moved on top 8-6. TSU would stay on UAPB's heels over the next several plays as they matched them point-for-point. UAPB was on the verge of closing out the match with a 14-11 lead but the TSU defense showed up when needed as Chenise Cook recorded a block followed by two UAPB errors which tied the match at 14-all. Caitlyn Roland's kill moved TSU ahead 15-14 but UAPB scored to tie it once again. Kourtni Collier earned a big kill followed by a UAPB error as TSU closed out the match with a hard-fought 3-2 win.
Amber Johnson led TSU with 10 kills followed by eight from Janiya Chapman and seven from Lilley. Cook led TSU with four aces while Collier added eight blocks. Dallas Balanay-Flores had 22 kills while Kaitlyn Scroggins and Britney Ong recorded 20 and 18 digs, respectively.
TSU is back in action on Monday at Grambling State for a 5 p.m. start.
