SAVANNAH, Ga. – Senior outside hitter Christian Lyle led Savannah State University (0-19, 0-2 MEAC) volleyball team with eight kills as Florida A&M University (2-13, 2-0 MEAC) defeated the Lady Tigers 3-0 (25-21, 25-12, 25-15) on Sunday in Willcox-Wiley Gym.
 
Lyle recorded a .429 hitting percentage and added four total blocks, including a solo block, while freshman outside hitter Chinenye Ofodile added six kills and had a .600 hitting percentage.  Freshman outside hitter Makayla Tam was third on the team with four kills and added two service aces.
 
Junior setter Caitylnn Masoe led the team with 12 assists and added three kills, a service ace, three digs and five total blocks, including two solo blocks, while freshman setter Briana Littlejohn added eight assists.  Junior middle blocker Gabrielle Nathaniel led the team with six digs, while Washington added three digs. 
 
The Lady Tigers scored six of the first eight points in the first set to capture a 6-2 lead, forcing a FAMU timeout.  After the timeout, the Rattlers scored seven of the next 10 points to tie the match at nine, but the Lady Tigers recaptured the lead scoring the next four points for a 13-9 lead and extended its lead to five, 17-12, forcing another timeout by the Rattlers.  FAMU outscored SSU 13-4 during the rest of the set to win the set and take an early 1-0 lead.  Ofodile led the team with four kills and had a .500 hitting percentage, while Masoe led the team with five assists and Nathaniel added four digs. 
 
Florida A&M scored six of the first seven points in the second set for a 6-1 lead and extended its lead to 12-5 forcing a timeout from Savannah State.  After the timeout, the Lady Tigers scored the next three points to close within five, 13-8, but the Rattlers outscored SSU 12-4 during the rest of the set to capture a 2-0 lead heading into intermission.  Ofodile connected on all two attempts, while Lyle connected on two of her three attempts, while Masoe led the team with four assists.
 
With the scored tied at four in the final set, the Lady Tigers took a 6-4 lead after a kill from Lyle and a service ace from freshman outside hitter Ayree Gallon, forcing a timeout from FAMU.  After the timeout, SSU extended its lead to three, 9-6, but the Rattlers outscored SSU 11-1 to take a 17-10 lead.  The Lady Tigers scored the next four points to force another FAMU timeout and to close the gap to three, 17-14.  Florida A&M outscored SSU 8-1 during the rest of the set to win the set and the match.  Lyle lead the team with four kills, and had a .333 hitting percentage, while Littlejohn and Masoe added three assists each.
 
The Rattlers were led by Ginna Lopez with 10 kills, Valeria Lopez with 23 assists and Valentina Carrasco with seven digs.
 
The Lady Tigers travels to North Carolina with a match against North Carolina A&T State on Friday at 7 p.m. in Greensboro and North Carolina Central on Sunday at 2 p.m. in Durham.
 
Short Box Score (Match)
FAMU vs Savannah State (Sep 27, 2015 at Savannah, Ga.)
 
FAMU def. Savannah State 25-21,25-12,25-15
 
  FAMU (2-13, 2-0 MEAC) (Kills-aces-blocks) - LOPEZ,Ginna 10-3-1;
  MARTIN,Deija 9-0-2; SORIANO,Pamela 7-5-0; FOWLER,Tamar 4-0-1;
  TUCKER,Starmichael 4-1-1; SORIANO,Andrea 0-1-0; BELLESI,Gaia 0-3-0;
  LOPEZ,Valeria 0-1-1; Totals 34-14-3.0. (Assists) - LOPEZ,Valeria 23.
  (Dig leaders) - CARRASCO,Valentina 7; LOPEZ,Valeria 6
 
  Savannah State (0-19, 0-2 MEAC) (Kills-aces-blocks) - LYLE,Christian
  8-0-4; OFODILE,Chinenye 6-0-0; TAM,Makayla 4-2-0; MASOE,Caitlynn
  3-1-5; NATHANIEL,Gabrielle 3-2-0; LITTLEJOHN,Briana 1-0-0;
  JONES,Jademone 1-0-0; GALLON,Ayree 0-1-0; Totals 26-6-6.0. (Assists) -
  MASOE,Caitlynn 12. (Dig leaders) - NATHANIEL,Gabrielle 6;
  MASOE,Caitlynn 3
 
  Site: Savannah, Ga. (Willcox-Wiley Gym)
  Date: Sep 27, 2015   Attend: 113   Time: 1:21   
  Referees: Buzz Thompson, Mark Bills
 
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