SAVANNAH, Ga. – Savannah State University volleyball team (0-31, 0-10 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) dropped its final match of the season to South Carolina State University (4-18, 4-6 MEAC) 3-0 (25-14, 26-24,25-18) Sunday afternoon in Willcox-Wiley Gymnasium.
 
Before the match, the Lady Tigers honored the lone senior one the team, Christian Lyle.  The middle blocker was second on the team with six kills during the match.
 
Junior middle blocker Gabrielle Nathaniel led the team with seven kills, while junior setter Caitlynn Masoe led the team with 21 assists and junior libero Alexis Washington led the team with 10 digs.
 
Nathaniel added five digs and two assists, while Masoe added four kills and seven digs.  Freshman outside hitter Chinenye Ofodile added five kills, two service aces and five digs, while freshman outside hitter Makayla Tam added four kills and five digs.
 
South Carolina State scored eight of the first nine points in the first set for an 8-1 lead and extended its lead to 16-4, before the Lady Tigers scored the next three points to cut the lead to 16-7.  The Lady Bulldogs scored the next four points for a 20-7 lead, but the Lady Tigers outscored SCSU 7-4 to close within 10 points, 24-14.  A kill from SCSU gave the Lady Bulldogs the set win and to take a 1-0 match lead.  Nathaniel and Lyle led the team with two kills each, while sophomore outside hitter Zariya Thomas added two service aces and Masoe added five assists.
 
The Lady Bulldogs scored the first three points in the second frame for a 3-0 lead, but the Lady Tigers scored four of the next six points to pull within a point, 5-4.  SSU scored the next four points to take a two-point lead, 7-5, but the Lady Bulldogs scored eight of the next 10 points for a 13-9 lead.  With SCSU holding a 22-18 lead, the Lady Tigers scored six of the next eight points to tie the set at 24, but the Lady Bulldogs scored the final two points to win the set and to take a 2-0 lead heading into intermission.  Ofodile led the team with three kills with a .400 hitting percentage, while Masoe added nine assists and five digs and Washington added six digs.
 
With the Lady Tigers facing match point at 24-15, SSU scored the next three points to close within six points, 24-18.  A SCSU kill gave the Lady Bulldogs the set win and the match win.  Nathaniel and Masoe led the team with three kills each, while Nathaniel recorded a .600 hitting percentage and three digs, and Masoe added seven assists, while Washington added three digs.  The Lady Tigers recorded more kills, 11-8, assists, 11-7, and digs, 13-10.
 
The Lady Bulldogs were led by Kiana Stone with nine kills, Melanie Williams with 29 assists and added 10 digs for a double-double, and Marcella Chestnut with 12 digs.
 
Short Box Score (Match)
The Automated ScoreBook
South Carolina St. vs Savannah State (Nov 08, 2015 at Savannah, Ga.)
 
  South Carolina St. def. Savannah State 25-14,26-24,25-18
 
  South Carolina St. (4-18, 4-6 MEAC) (Kills-aces-blocks) - STONE,Kiana
  9-0-4; SLUCH,Shandice 7-2-1; DAFNEY,Brianna 7-0-2; LAWRENCE,Marissa
  6-1-2; ANDERSON,Kirby 5-2-4; WILLIAMS,Melanie 2-2-1; CHESTNUT,Marcella
  1-0-0; Totals 37-7-8.0. (Assists) - WILLIAMS,Melanie 29. (Dig leaders)
  - CHESTNUT,Marcella 12; WILLIAMS,Melanie 10
 
  Savannah State (0-31, 0-10 MEAC) (Kills-aces-blocks) -
  NATHANIEL,Gabrielle 7-0-0; LYLE,Christian 6-0-0; OFODILE,Chinenye
  5-2-1; TAM,Makayla 4-0-1; MASOE,Caitlynn 4-0-0; THOMAS,Zariya 2-2-0;
  Totals 28-4-1.0. (Assists) - MASOE,Caitlynn 21. (Dig leaders) -
  WASHINGTON,Alexis 10; MASOE,Caitlynn 7
 
  Site: Savannah, Ga. (Willcox-Wiley)
  Date: Nov 08, 2015   Attend: 143   Time: 1:22   
  Referees: Holly Meckley, Buz Thompson
 
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