SAVANNAH, Ga. – The Savannah State University volleyball team (1-22, 1-6 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) fell to Florida A&M University (11-11, 7-0 MEAC) 3-0 (13-25, 15-25, 10-25) on Senior Day in Willcox-Wiley Gymnasium Sunday.

The five seniors combined for 15 of the 21 kills and 18 of the 22 digs during the match.  Senior middle blocker Gabrielle Nathaniel led the Lady Tigers with five kills and added five digs, while senior libero Alexis Washington led the team with eight digs.  Graduate student Justice Dilworth and senior setter Caitlynn Masoe each added four kills, while Masoe added three digs and Dilworth added two digs and two blocks.
 
Junior setter Alee Quint led the team with 11 assists, while sophomore outside hitter Alaina Monroe added four digs.
 
The Lady Tigers scored the first point in the first set to capture a 1-0 lead, but Florida A&M outscored SSU 25-12 during the rest of the set to win the set and to take a 1-0 match lead. 
 
Savannah State scored the first three points of the second frame, including back-to-back blocks from Dilworth and freshman middle blocker Dominique Ingram to take a 3-0 lead.  Florida A&M scored the next two points to close within a point, 3-2, but the Lady Tigers scored the next two points for a three-point lead, 5-2.  FAMU scored six of the next eight points to take an 8-7 lead, but SSU scored the next two points to take a point lead, 9-8.  FAMU outscored SSU 16-7 during the rest of the set to win the set and to take a 2-0 match lead.
 
After a kill from Masoe to open the third stanza to give the Lady Tigers a 1-0 lead, the Rattlers scored the next 11 points to take a 10-point lead, 11-1.  FAMU outscored SSU 14-9 during the rest of the set to win the set and to win the match.
 
The Rattlers were led by Maria Yvette Garcia with 11 kills, Elena Dimitrova with 29 assists and Valentina Carrasco with 10 digs.
 
The Lady Tigers conclude their six-match homestand with the final home match on Monday at 6 p.m. against Georgia Southern in Willcox-Wiley Gym.
 
Short Box Score (Match)
The Automated ScoreBook
FLORIDA A&M vs Savannah State (Oct 23, 2016 at Savannah, Ga.)
 
FLORIDA A&M def. Savannah State 25-13,25-15,25-10
 
  FLORIDA A&M (11-11, 7-0 MEAC) (Kills-aces-blocks) - GARCIA,Maria
  Yvette 11-0-4; LOPEZ-CHAVEZ,Ginna 10-0-6; ABREU,Nicole 8-2-0;
  DIMITROVA,Radka 3-1-1; DIMITROVA,Elena 2-1-0; MARTIN,Dei'Ja 2-0-1;
  CANESSA,Nair 0-4-0; Totals 36-8-7.0. (Assists) - DIMITROVA,Elena 29.
  (Dig leaders) - CARRASCO,Valentina 10; ABREU,Nicole 6
 
  Savannah State (1-22, 1-6 MEAC) (Kills-aces-blocks) -
  NATHANIEL,Gabrielle 5-0-1; DILWORTH,Justice 4-0-2; MASOE,Caitlynn
  4-0-1; INGRAM,DOMINIQUE 2-0-2; JONES,Jademone 2-0-1; QUINT, Alee
  1-0-0; MONROE,Alaina 1-0-0; GALLON,Ayree 1-0-0; COLBERT,Charlinda
  1-0-0; Totals 21-0-3.5. (Assists) - QUINT, Alee 11. (Dig leaders) -
  WASHINGTON,Alexis 8; NATHANIEL,Gabrielle 5
 
  Site: Savannah, Ga. (Willcox-Wiley Gym)
  Date: Oct 23, 2016   Attend: 96   Time: 1:22   
  Referees:  Bob Watson and Mark Mills
 
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