SAVANNAH, Ga. – Savannah State University volleyball team fell to Charleston Southern 3-0 (25-11, 25-18, 25-23) at Willcox-Wiley Gym on Monday to begin its four-match homestand.
 
Junior middle blocker Gabrielle Nathaniel recorded a season-high nine kills with a .368 hitting percentage and added a service ace, five digs and three block assist, while junior setter Caitlynn Masoe and freshman outside hitter Chinenye Ofodile each recorded five kills.  Masoe led the team with 11 assists and added five digs and two total blocks.
 
Junior libero Alexis Washington led the team with 10 digs, while freshman setter Briana Littlejohn added nine assists, seven digs and a service ace.
 
Charleston Southern (4-12) scored the first four points in the first set, but the Lady Tigers (0-16) scored the next two points to cut the lead in half, 4-2.  CSU outscored SSU 21-9 during the rest of the set to take an early 1-0 lead.  Nathaniel, freshman outside hitter Makayla Tam and Masoe added two kills each, while Littlejohn led the team with three digs and Masoe led the team with three assists.  
 
The Bucs scored the first two points of the second set and outscored SSU 9-5 for an 11-5 lead to force a timeout by Savannah State.  The Lady Tigers scored the next point to cut the lead to 11-6, but CSU outscored SSU 14-12 during the rest of the set to take a 2-0 lead into intermission.  Nathaniel connected on all three attacks, while Masoe and Ofodile also added three kills.  Masoe had a .500 hitting percentage and added five assists and three digs.  Washington added five digs and Littlejohn added four assists.
 
In the final set, the Bucs scored the first four points to take a 4-0 lead, but the Lady Tigers battled back by scoring nine of the next 14 points to tie the set at nine.  CSU scored five of the next seven points to take a 14-11 lead, but once again SSU battled back to tie the match at 15.  Charleston Southern scored two of the next three points to take a 17-16 lead and then the Lady Tigers scored the next five points to capture a 21-17 lead.  CSU outscored SSU 8-2 during the rest of the set to win the set and the match.  Nathaniel led the team with four kills and added a service ace, two digs and two block assists.
 
Charleston Southern was led by Addison Kaderli with 12 kills, Brooke Green with 17 assists and Ashley Higginbothem with 13 digs.
 
The Lady Tigers continue its four-match homestand against The Citadel on Tuesday at 6 p.m. in Willcox-Wiley Gym before opening conference play against Bethune-Cookman on Friday at 6 p.m. and Florida A&M on Sunday at 1 p.m.
 
Short Box Score (Match)
Charleston So. vs Savannah State (Sep 21, 2015 at Savannah, Ga.)
 
Charleston So. def. Savannah State 25-11,25-18,25-23
 
  Charleston So. (4-12) (Kills-aces-blocks) - KADERLI, Addison 12-0-1;
  PARROTT, Meredith 8-0-1; KLEIN, Kylie 6-0-5; HOUSTON, Katrina 5-0-1;
  KUGLIN, Krista 2-0-0; WESTERN, Hannah 2-0-0; MALONE, Connor 2-0-2;
  GREEN, Brooke 1-0-0; GREER, Cassidy 0-0-1; HIGGINBOTHEM, Ashley 0-1-0;
  ALLMAN, Taylor 0-1-0; MARTIN, Madison 0-1-0; Totals 38-3-6.0.
  (Assists) - GREEN, Brooke 17. (Dig leaders) - HIGGINBOTHEM, Ashley 13;
  GREEN, Brooke 9
 
  Savannah State (0-16) (Kills-aces-blocks) - NATHANIEL,Gabrielle 9-1-3;
  OFODILE,Chinenye 5-0-2; MASOE,Caitlynn 5-0-2; TAM,Makayla 3-0-0;
  LYLE,Christian 2-0-2; LITTLEJOHN,Briana 1-1-0; JONES,Jademone 1-0-2;
  Totals 26-2-6.0. (Assists) - MASOE,Caitlynn 11. (Dig leaders) -
  WASHINGTON,Alexis 10; LITTLEJOHN,Briana 7
 
  Site: Savannah, Ga. (Willcox-Wiley Gym)
  Date: Sep 21, 2015   Attend: 139   Time: 1:29   
  Referees: Holly Meckley, Bob Watson
 
 
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