Women's Volleyball | 8/24/2017 1:50:00 PM

SAVANNAH, Ga. – The Savannah State University begins the 2017 volleyball season with the MEAC/SWAC Challenge this weekend in Montgomery, Ala.
 
The Lady Tigers start the tournament with a single match Friday against host Alabama State University at 7 p.m., followed by a doubleheader Saturday with Alabama A&M University at 11:30 a.m. and Grambling State University at 5:30 p.m.
 
The Lady Tigers are looking to replace nine letterwinners from last season's team, including five starts and a libero, that counted for 60 percent of the kills, 78.9 of the digs and 70.5 of the blocks. 
 
However, Savannah State does return four letterwinners with two seniors of setter Alee Quint and outside hitter Jademone Jones and two juniors of middle blocker Charlinda Colbert and outside hitter Ayree Gallon, while adding 11 newcomers, three transfers and eight freshman.
 
The three transfers are right side hitter Jennifer Rosado, who transferred from Nova South Eastern University, middle blocker Tyran Chenault, from Jacksonville University, and outside hitter Cortney Williams, from North Greenville University. 
 
Seven of the eight freshman hail from Georgia or Puerto Rico.  Freshman defensive specialist Chara Robbins from Conyers, freshman right side hitter Karissa Tatum from LaFayette, freshman middle blocker Oniellia Fuller from Villa Rica and freshman middle blocker De'Antoinette Rodriguez-Hairston are the four that hail from the state of Georgia.
 
The three that come from Puerto Rico are freshman outside hitter Amanda Rullan Vilanova from Bayamon, freshman libero Leiri Melendez from Ponce and freshman setter Salma Gonzalez from Iabela. Sanford comes from Hazel Green, Ala.
 
Edric Poitier returns for his second season at SSU after posting a 2-25 overall record last season, including a 2-8 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.  Overall, the Nassau, Bahamas native has a 194-160 record in 12 seasons.  
 
Alabama State went 24-9 last season, including a perfect 18-0 record in the Southwestern Athletic Conference and returns the top five in kills with Briana Dorsey leading the way with 288 kills last season.  ASU returns both setters also return with Justus Tuiolosega leading the way last season with 595 assists, but lost the libero in Jamie Coleman, who led the way with 492 digs last season.
 
Alabama A&M went 13-22 last season and lost is team leader in kills and digs with Ashundria McNeal, who recorded 512 kills and 282 digs last season, but returns the second in kills with Courtney Oliver with 164 kills.  AAMU returns its setter of Riley Balsmeyer, who recorded 875 assists last season. 
 
Grambling State went 7-18 last season and returns its top two in kills with Kevreion Ward with 205 kills and Chasity Nicks with 189 kills last season.  GSU returns both setters with L'Muriell Thrower with 281 assists and Diemend Richardson with 269 assists and returns the top two in digs with Alleeyah Hensley with 195 digs and Nicks with 163 digs. 
 
The Lady Tigers head to Jacksonville, Fla., for a midweek match against the University of North Florida Wednesday at 7 p.m. before heading to Williamsburg, Va., for the William & Mary Invitational from Sept. 1-2.  SSU starts with Morehead State University Friday at 3 p.m., followed by a doubleheader Saturday with Davidson College at 10 a.m. and host College of William & Mary at 12:30 p.m.
 
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