DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.  – Senior setter Caitlynn Masoe recorded her third double-double of the season with 11 assists and 12 digs as the Savannah State University volleyball team (0-17, 0-1 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) dropped its conference opener on the road to Bethune-Cookman University (2-12, 1-0 MEAC) in Warner Christian Gym Friday night.
 
The Long Beach, Calif., native need three kills to record a triple-double, but finished with seven kills and two service aces, while senior libero Alexis Washington led the team with 13 digs and junior setter Alee Quint led the team with 18 assists.
 
Freshman outside hitter Dominique Ingram added six kills, while senior middle blocker Gabrielle Nathaniel recorded four kills and 10 digs. 
 
Bethune-Cookman scored eight of the first 11 points to take a five-point lead, 8-3, in the first set, but the Lady Tigers scored the next four points to close within a point, 8-7.  The Wildcats scored three of the next four points to increase their lead to three points, 11-8, but the Savannah State scored the next two points to close within a point, 11-10.  B-CU outscored SSU 14-10 during the rest of the set to capture the five-point set win and to take a 1-0 match lead.
 
The Wildcats scored 10 of the first 14 points to take a six-point lead, 10-4, in the second frame, but the Lady Tigers 11 of the next 16 points to close within three points, 18-15, but B-CU outscored SSU 7-2 during the rest of the frame to capture the eight-point set win and to take a 2-0 match lead heading into the intermission.
 
Savannah State scored four of the first five points to take a 4-1 lead in the final stanza, but the Wildcats scored five of the next six points to close within a point, 6-5.  The Lady Tigers scored the next three points to increase their lead to four, 9-5, but Bethune-Cookman scored three of the next four points to close within two points, 10-8.  After back-to-back kills from Ingram and sophomore outside hitter Ayree Gallon to increase SSU's lead to four points, 12-8, the Wildcats scored the next three points to pull within a point, 12-11. 
 
The Lady Tigers scored the next two points for a three-point lead, 14-11, but the Wildcats scored the next four points to take a point lead, 15-14.  B-CU outscored SSU 10-8 during the rest of the set to take a three-point set win and to win the match. 
 
The Wildcats were led by Phylecia Armstrong and Alondra Bautista with 11 kills, Phalen Clark with 23 assists and Normarie Rolo Soto with 11 digs. 
 
The Lady Tigers continue their Florida trip traveling to Tallahassee to play Florida A&M University Sunday at 3 p.m.
 
Short Box Score (Match)
The Automated ScoreBook
Savannah State vs Bethune-Cookman (Sep 23, 2016 at Daytona Beach, Fla.)
 
Bethune-Cookman def. Savannah State 25-20,25-17,25-22
 
  Savannah State (0-17, 0-1 MEAC) (Kills-aces-blocks) - MASOE,Caitlynn
  7-2-1; INGRAM,DOMINIQUE 6-0-2; NATHANIEL,Gabrielle 4-0-0;
  COLBERT,Charlinda 4-0-1; MONROE,Alaina 3-0-0; JONES,Jademone 2-0-1;
  GALLON,Ayree 2-0-0; DILWORTH,Justice 2-0-0; LIPSCOMB,Autumn 1-0-1;
  HARRIS,Elexius 0-0-1; Totals 31-2-4.0. (Assists) - QUINT, Alee 18;
  MASOE,Caitlynn 11. (Dig leaders) - WASHINGTON,Alexis 13;
  MASOE,Caitlynn 12; NATHANIEL,Gabrielle 10
 
  Bethune-Cookman (2-12, 1-0 MEAC) (Kills-aces-blocks) -
  ARMSTRONG,Phylecia 11-0-6; BAUTISTA,Alondra 11-1-3; NEELY,Rakaya
  6-2-0; CHAPMAN,Jai 6-0-0; TURNER,Lauren 3-0-1; ARLAUD,Jill 1-0-0;
  HANDY,Alana 1-0-0; CLARK,Phalen 0-1-0; Totals 39-4-7.0. (Assists) -
  CLARK,Phalen 23; HIGGINS,J'nai 11. (Dig leaders) - ROLON SOTO,Normarie
  11; DAVIE,Ajsha 10; BAUTISTA,Alondra 8
 
  Site: Daytona Beach, Fla. (Warner Christian Gym)
  Date: Sep 23, 2016   Attend: 409   Time: 1:32   
  Referees: Joya Teter, DJ Clark
 
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