CHARLESTON, S.C. – Savannah State University volleyball team fell to Charleston Southern 3-0 (25-9, 25-22, 25-7) on Tuesday at the Buc Dome.

Junior setter Caitlynn Masoe and junior middle blocker Gabrielle Nathaniel led the Lady Tigers (0-5) with six kills each, while freshman setter Briana Littlejohn led the team with 10 assists and junior libero Alexis Washington with 11 digs.  Masoe also added seven assists, five digs and a service ace
 
Charleston Southern (1-3) scored the first three points in the first set, but the Lady Tigers battled back by scoring the next three points to tie it at three.  CSU then scored the next eight points to take an 11-3 lead and went on to outscore SSU 14-6 during the rest of the set to take an early 1-0 lead.  Nathaniel led the team with three kills, while freshman outside hitter Makayla Tam and sophomore outside hitter Elexius Harris each added three digs.
 
The Bucs took an early 2-0 lead in the second set, but like the first set, the Lady Tigers battled back scoring the next two points to tie it at two.  With the score tied at four, SSU scored the next two points to take a 6-4 lead and stayed in the lead until CSU came back to tie it at nine.  The Lady Tigers then scored the next three points for a 12-9 lead, but the Bucs battled back to tie it at 12 before a service error gave SSU a 13-12 lead.  CSU outscored SSU 9-6 to take a 2-0 lead.  Masoe and senior middle blocker Christian Lyle led the team with three kills each, while Washington added six digs and Littlejohn added five assists.  Masoe also had a .500 hitting percentage with four assists, five digs and a service ace. 
 
The Lady Tigers took an early 1-0 lead in the final set after a kill from Masoe, but the Bucs scored six of the next seven points to take a 6-2 lead.  After another kill from Masoe, CSU scored the next 10 points to take a 16-3 lead and outscored SSU 9-4 during the rest of the set to win the set and the match.  Sophomore outside hitter Zariya Thomas and Masoe led the team with two kills each, while Littlejohn added four assists and Washington added three digs. 
 
The Bucs were led by Katrina Houston with nine kills and had a .600 hitting percentage, Cassidy Greer with 14 assists and Ashley Higginbothem with 17 digs.
 
The Lady Tigers are back in action on the road this weekend at the Blazer Classic in Birmingham, Ala.  SSU faces Austin Peay on Friday at 5 p.m., followed by a doubleheader on Saturday with the host UAB at 10 a.m. and Florida International at 3 p.m.
 
Short Box Score (Match)
Savannah State vs Charleston So. (Sep 01, 2015 at Charleston, S.C.)
 
Charleston So. def. Savannah State 25-9,25-22,25-7
 
  Savannah State (0-5) (Kills-aces-blocks) - NATHANIEL,Gabrielle 6-0-0;
  MASOE,Caitlynn 6-1-0; LYLE,Christian 4-0-0; THOMAS,Zariya 2-0-0;
  JONES,Jademone 2-0-0; TAM,Makayla 2-1-0; Totals 22-2-0.0. (Assists) -
  LITTLEJOHN,Briana 10. (Dig leaders) - WASHINGTON,Alexis 11;
  THOMAS,Zariya 5
 
  Charleston So. (1-3) (Kills-aces-blocks) - HOUSTON, Katrina 9-0-1;
  KADERLI, Addison 6-0-0; KLEIN, Kylie 6-0-2; PARROTT, Meredith 6-1-0;
  WINDSOR, Siraya 4-0-0; KUGLIN, Krista 3-0-1; WESTERN, Hannah 3-1-0;
  GREEN, Brooke 2-0-0; ALLMAN, Taylor 0-1-0; Totals 39-3-3.0. (Assists)
  - GREER, Cassidy 14; GREEN, Brooke 10. (Dig leaders) - HIGGINBOTHEM,
  Ashley 17; ALLMAN, Taylor 8
 
  Site: Charleston, S.C. (Buc Dome)
  Date: Sep 01, 2015   Attend: 415   Time: 1:27   
  Referees:
 
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