Box Score ARLINGTON, Tex – In the opening game of the 2012 season, the Savannah State volleyball squad fell 3-0, to the University of Texas Arlington in the UT Hilton Invitational in Arlington, Texas Friday night.

In the opening set, Savannah State took a 10-7 lead on a point from on an attack error. It was the largest lead the Lady Tigers had in the first set. Back-to-back kills from Shelby Dickson cut Savannah State's lead to one point. SSU senior Ashlee Butler responded with a kill to give the visitors an 11-9 lead. Two errors from the Lady Tigers tied the match up at 11.

Savannah State went point-for-point ending on a kill from Bridgette Stephens that knotted the set up at 16. A 5-0 run from the Lady Mavericks put them up 21-16. Savannah State fired back with a kill from Bryana Gadis, but UT kept the offensive stride going. The Lady Mavericks sealed up the 25-19 set win with a kill from Ashley Bennett.

In the second set, a kill from Bryana Gadis cut the Lady Mavericks lead to 1 point, 8-7, before the home team went on a 15-4 run to take a 23-11 lead. An attack error and a kill from Taylor Gross gave the Lady Mavericks a 25-13 set win.

The Lady Tigers only managed 11 points in the final set as the Lady Mavericks found an offensive stride with 15 kills. The Lady Tigers struggled against relentless attacks, falling 25-11 in the final set.
Gadis led the Lady Tigers with eight kills, 25 total attacks, and 11 digs. Butler had 11 assists and six digs, while Keandra Lewis and Stephens each had eight digs.

Dickson led all scorers with a double-double, 18 kills and 10 digs. Amy Davault led UT in digs with 13.

Savannah State continues in the tournament with two games Saturday. They will play The University of Stephen F. Austin at 12 p.m. EST (11 p.m. CST) and the University of Texas-Pan America at 5:30 p.m. EST (4:30 p.m. CST).

Live stats of the Texas-Pan America match can be found HERE

Live stats for the Stephen F. Austin match can be found HERE