SAVANNAH, Ga. – Junior middle blocker Gabrielle Nathaniel led Savannah State University volleyball team with nine kills as the Lady Tigers (0-22) fell to University of North Florida (15-4) 3-0 (25-14, 25-18, 25-15) in Willcox-Wiley Gym on Tuesday night.
 
The Ontario, Canada native added three total blocks, two assists and had a .316 hitting percentage.  Over the last two matches, Nathaniel has recorded a team-best 17 kills, 2.83 kills per set, eight digs, seven total blocks, 1.17 blocks per set, three assists and had a .270 hitting percentage. 
 
Freshman outside hitter Makayla Tam and junior setter Caitlynn Masoe each added six kills, while Masoe led the team with 14 assists and added six digs, a service ace, two total blocks and had a .500 hitting percentage, while Tam added two total blocks, a service ace, three digs and two assists.  Junior libero Alexis Washington led the team with nine digs and added three assists.
 
The Ospreys scored the first six points of the match for a 6-0 lead in the first stanza and extended its lead to 11-2.  The Lady Tigers scored the next two points to close within seven, 11-4, but UNF outscored SSU 14-10 during the rest of the set to win the set and to take an early 1-0 lead. Masoe led the team with three kills, while Nathaniel led the team with two assists and Washington led the team with two digs.
 
The Lady Tigers scored the first two points in the second set for a 2-0 lead, but UNF scored the next four points to take a 4-2 lead, but SSU scored the next two points to tie the set at four.  With each team scoring a point to keep the set tied, at five, the Ospreys scored the next four points to capture a 9-5 lead forcing a timeout from Savannah State.  After the timeout, the Lady Tigers scored the next two points to cut the lead to 9-7, but UNF outscored SSU 16-11 during the rest of the set to win the set and to take a 2-0 lead heading into the intermission.  Nathaniel led the team with three kills, while Masoe led the team with five assists and with three digs.
 
North Florida scored the first two points in the final frame for a 2-0 lead, but the Lady Tigers quickly scored the next two points to tie the set at two.  With both teams scoring a point to keep the set tied, at three, UNF scored the next three points for a 6-3 lead.  The Ospreys outscored SSU 19-12 during the rest of the set to win the set and the match.  Nathaniel led the team with five kills and added a .333 hitting percentage, while Masoe led the team with eight assists and Washington led the team with five digs. 
 
The Ospreys were led by Morgan Van Alstine with nine kills, Carinne Turner with 26 assists and Kimberly Ferguson with nine digs.
 
The Lady Tigers travel to Orangeburg, S.C., to face South Carolina State on Friday at 7 p.m. and returns home to face a non-conference opponent of Mercer on Wednesday, Oct. 16 at 6 p.m. in Willcox-Wiley Gym.
 
Short Box Score (Match)
UNF vs Savannah State (Oct 06, 2015 at Savannah, Ga.)
 
UNF def. Savannah State 25-14,25-18,25-15
 
  UNF (15-4) (Kills-aces-blocks) - VAN ALSTINE, Morgan 9-0-1; RAICEVIC,
  Katarina 7-3-1; DESAULNAY, Ambre 7-2-2; EDWARDS, Erin 4-1-1; HARRISON,
  Haley 3-4-0; TURNER, Carinne 3-0-0; FERGUSON, Kimberly 0-1-0; FESSLER,
  Kayla 0-2-0; Totals 33-13-3.0. (Assists) - TURNER, Carinne 26. (Dig
  leaders) - FERGUSON, Kimberly 9; TURNER, Carinne 6
 
  Savannah State (0-22) (Kills-aces-blocks) - NATHANIEL,Gabrielle 9-0-3;
  MASOE,Caitlynn 6-1-2; TAM,Makayla 6-1-2; GALLON,Ayree 1-2-1;
  JONES,Jademone 1-0-0; OFODILE,Chinenye 1-0-1; COLBERT,Charlinda 0-1-2;
  Totals 24-5-5.5. (Assists) - MASOE,Caitlynn 14. (Dig leaders) -
  WASHINGTON,Alexis 9; MASOE,Caitlynn 6
 
  Site: Savannah, Ga. (Willcox-Wiley Gym)
  Date: Oct 06, 2015   Attend: 127   Time: 1:12   
  Referees: Robert Owen, Lester Hayman
 
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