BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Senior outside hitter Christian Lyle led the team with five kills as Savannah State University volleyball fell to Austin Peay 3-0 (25-11, 25-14, 25-10) on Friday night at Bartow Arena at the Blazer Classic.

Three Lady Tigers (0-6), freshmen outside hitters Makayla Tam and Chineye Ofodile and junior setter Caitlynn Masoe, each added three kills, while Masoe also added nine assists, three digs and two block assists.  Junior libero Alexis Washington led the team with seven digs, while freshman setter Briana Littlejohn added five digs and five assists. 
 
Austin Peay (1-4) scored seven of the first nine points in the first set and after a block from Littlejohn and junior middle blocker Gabrielle Nathaniel to make it 7-3, APSU scored the next six points to take a 13-3 lead before a kill from sophomore outside hitter Zariya Thomas, cut the lead to 13-4.  APSU outscored the Lady Tigers 12-7 during the rest of the set to take an early 1-0 lead.  Lyle led the team with three kills, while Littlejohn and Masoe each added two assists and Washington had four digs. 
 
The score was close early in the second set as neither team had a lead of more than a point.  With the score tied at three, SSU scored the next three points to take a 6-3 lead.  With an 8-5 lead, APSU scored the next five points to take a 10-8 and the Lady Governors outscored SSU 15-7 during the rest of the set to take a 2-0 lead. 
 
After a service error by Washington, the Lady Tigers tied the score at one in the third set after a kill by Masoe.  APSU score the next three points to take a 4-1 lead and continued to stretch the led by outscoring the Lady Tigers 21-9 to win the set and the match. 
 
The Lady Governors were led by Ashely Slay with six kills and had a .500 hitting percentage, Kristen Stucker with 21 assists and Peyton Walker with eight digs.
 
The Lady Tigers continue with the Blazer Classic in Birmingham, Ala., with a doubleheader on Saturday starting with host UAB at 10 a.m. followed by Florida International at 3 p.m.
 
Short Box Score (Match)
Savannah State vs APSU (Sep 04, 2015 at Birmingham, Ala.)
 
APSU def. Savannah State 25-11,25-14,25-10
 
  Savannah State (0-6) (Kills-aces-blocks) - LYLE,Christian 5-0-2;
  MASOE,Caitlynn 3-0-2; TAM,Makayla 3-0-0; OFODILE,Chinenye 3-0-0;
  NATHANIEL,Gabrielle 2-1-1; GALLON,Ayree 1-0-0; LITTLEJOHN,Briana
  1-0-1; THOMAS,Zariya 1-0-0; HARRIS,Elexius 1-0-0; Totals 20-1-3.0.
  (Assists) - . (Dig leaders) - WASHINGTON,Alexis 7; LITTLEJOHN,Briana 5
 
  APSU (1-4) (Kills-aces-blocks) - SLAY, Ashley 6-1-2; TAFF, Kaylee
  3-0-0; GABLE, Cecily 3-0-2; WALKER, Peyton 3-1-0; MARSELLIS, Aubrey
  3-0-4; STROTHER, Samantha 2-1-0; CARGER, Logan 2-0-2; EBRIGHT, Sammie
  2-3-0; RADICH, Amanda 1-0-0; FERGUSON, Kelly 1-1-2; STUCKER, Kristen
  0-1-0; ADAMS, April 0-1-0; Totals 26-9-6.0. (Assists) - STUCKER,
  Kristen 21. (Dig leaders) - WALKER, Peyton 8; EBRIGHT, Sammie 7
 
  Site: Birmingham, Ala. (Bartow Arena)
  Date: Sep 04, 2015   Attend: 115   Time: 1:01   
  Referees: Marsha Goodwin, Matafu Tiatia
 
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