DURHAM, N.C. – Junior middle blocker Gabrielle Nathaniel led Savannah State University volleyball team with eight kills as the Lady Tigers (0-21, 0-4 MEAC) fell to North Carolina Central University (3-16, 2-1 MEAC) 3-0 (25-21, 25-21, 27-25) on Sunday in L.T. Walker Complex.
 
The Ontario, Canada native also recorded five digs and four block assists, while recording a .222 hitting percentage and junior setter Caitlynn Masoe led the team with 23 assists and added three kills, four digs, a service ace and two block assists.
 
Junior libero Alexis Washington led the team with 13 digs and has recorded 30 digs over the weekend for an average of 5.00 digs per set.  The Chino, Calif., native also recorded two services aces and has recorded six service aces over the weekend for an average of 1.00 service ace per set. 
 
Freshman outside hitter Chinenye Ofodile was second on the team with six kills and added two block assists, while senior middle blocker Christian Lyle added five kills.  Junior outside hitter Jademone Jones and freshman outside hitter Makayla Tam recorded four kills each, while Jones added a .571 hitting percentage and Tam added two assists and three digs.
 
The first set was very close as neither team had a lead of more than a point until the Eagles captured a 23-21 lead.  After a kill from Lyle to tie the match at 21, NCCU scored the final four points to win the set and to take an early 1-0 lead.  Tam led the team with three kills, Masoe added nine assists and Washington added five digs.
 
The second frame followed the same pattern as the first set as neither team had a lead of more than a point until the Eagles had an 18-16 lead.  After a kill from Lyle to give the Lady Tigers a 16-15 lead, NCCU outscored SSU 8-2 to take a 24-18 lead.  The Lady Tigers scored the next three points to close within three points, 24-21, but a kill from the Eagles gave NCCU the set and a 2-0 lead heading into intermission.  Lyle led the team connecting on all three attempts, while Masoe added six assists and freshman outside hitter Ayree Gallon led the team with five digs.
 
With the score tied at four in the final stanza, the Eagles scored the next four points to take an 8-4 lead, but the Lady Tigers battled back to outscore the Eagles 12-8 to tie the set at 16.  NCCU outscored SSU 8-4 to take a 24-20 lead.  With the Eagles trying to end the match with match point, the Lady Tigers battled back to tie the match at 24 by scoring the next four points. After trading points to keep the set tied, at 25, the Eagles scored the final two points to win the set and the match.  Nathaniel led the team with four kills and had a .429 hitting percentage, while Jones connected on all three attempts.  Masoe led the team with eight assists and Washington led the team with five digs.
 
The Eagles were led by Kelsey Murphy with 12 kills, Casey Curran with 28 assists and Paige Phillips with 10 digs.
 
The Lady Tigers return home for a non-conference match against North Florida on Tuesday at 6 p.m. in Willcox-Wiley Gym before heading on the road to Orangeburg, S.C., to face South Carolina State on Friday at 7 p.m. 
 
Short Box Score (Match)
Savannah State vs N.C. Central (Oct 04, 2015 at Durham, N.C.)
 
N.C. Central def. Savannah State 25-21,25-21,27-25
 
  Savannah State (0-21, 0-4 MEAC) (Kills-aces-blocks) -
  NATHANIEL,Gabrielle 8-0-4; OFODILE,Chinenye 6-0-2; LYLE,Christian
  5-0-1; JONES,Jademone 4-0-1; TAM,Makayla 4-1-1; MASOE,Caitlynn 3-1-2;
  GALLON,Ayree 0-2-0; WASHINGTON,Alexis 0-2-0; Totals 30-6-5.5.
  (Assists) - MASOE,Caitlynn 23. (Dig leaders) - WASHINGTON,Alexis 13;
  GALLON,Ayree 8
 
  N.C. Central (3-16, 2-1 MEAC) (Kills-aces-blocks) - MURPHY,Kelsey
  12-2-1; ROSSIP,Kelly 7-1-2; SHIPMAN,Kierra 6-0-0; WHITE,Whitney 3-0-1;
  CURRAN,Casey 1-1-0; ALLISON,Jennifer 1-0-1; RICHARDSON,Sydney 1-0-1;
  SIMMONS,Bree 0-3-0; BREKKE,Tamika 0-2-0; PHILLIPS,Paige 0-1-0; Totals
  31-10-4.0. (Assists) - CURRAN,Casey 28. (Dig leaders) - PHILLIPS,Paige
  10; BREKKE,Tamika 7
 
  Site: Durham, N.C. (L.T. Walker Complex)
  Date: Oct 04, 2015   Attend: 161   Time: 1:32   
  Referees: Frank Motondo, Brian Jones
 
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