MONTGOMERY, Ala.  – The Savannah State University volleyball team (2-1) won both matches Saturday with wins over Alabama A&M University (0-2) 3-0 (27-25, 25-20, 25-20) and Grambling State University (0-2) 3-2 (25-14, 18-25, 15-25, 25-16, 15-8) Saturday at the MEAC/SWAC Challenge in Lockhart Gymnasium.
 
The straight set win against Alabama A&M is the first sweep since the Lady Tigers beat Tougaloo College 3-0 on Sept. 19, 2014 and is the first sweep against a Division I opponent.  The last time Savannah State won back-to-back matches was the start of the 2014 season, where SSU defeated Brewton-Parker College and Fort Valley State University. 
 
Junior outside hitter Jennifer Rosado led the Lady Tigers with 15 kills in two matches, while freshman middle blocker Tyran Chenault and junior middle blocker Charlinda Colbert each added 13 kills. 

Senior setter Alee Quint led the team with 36 assists and added eight digs in two matches, while freshman setter Salma Gonzalez added 30 assists, 10 kills, 12 digs and three service aces and freshman outside hitter Amanda Rullan Vilanova added 10 kills.  Freshman libero Leiri Melendez recorded 42 digs, including 22 digs against Alabama A&M to tie a school record with Danielle Sampson on Sept. 18, 2007, for a three-set match.
 
Savannah State 3, Alabama A&M 0
Melendez tied a school-record with a match-high 22 digs, while Colbert led the team with a match-high 10 kills and a .533 hitting percentage. 
 
Quint led the team with a match-high 20 assists, while Gonzalez added 16 assists, seven kills and five digs.  Chenault added eight kills and a .438 hitting percentage, while Rosado added six kills and freshman outside hitter Brooke Sanford added five kills and a .500 hitting percentage.
 
As a team, Savannah State recorded a .351 hitting percentage (45 kills, 12 errors and 94 attacks) and 35 digs. 
 
Alabama A&M scored six of the first nine points of the first set to take a 6-3 lead, but the Lady Tigers scored six of the next nine points to tie the set at nine.  The set went back-and-forth with each team scoring three points to keep the set tied at 12 until back-to-back kills from Colbert and senior outside hitter Jademone Jones to give the Lady Tigers a two-point lead, 14-12.  AAUM scored five of the next seven points to take a point lead, 17-16, but the Lady Tigers scored seven of the next nine points to take a four-point lead, 23-19, forcing a Bulldog timeout.
 
After the timeout, AAMU scored five of the next six points to tie the set at 24 and with both teams scoring a point to keep the set tied at 25, back-to-back attack errors from the Bulldogs gave the Lady Tigers the two point set win and to take a 1-0 match lead. 
 
Alabama State scored three of the first four points in the second stanza to take a 3-1 lead, but the Lady Tigers scored six of the next eight points to take a two-point lead, 7-5.  The Bulldogs scored three of the next four points to tie the set at eight, but Savannah State scored 14 of the next 21 points to take a six-point lead, 22-15 lead.  AAMU scored five of the next seven points to pull within four points, 24-20, but a Bulldog attack error gave the Lady Tigers the five point set win and to go up 2-0 in the match.
 
The Lady Tigers scored 14 of the first 20 points in the final frame to take a 14-6 lead, but the Bulldogs scored eight of the next nine points to pull within a point, 15-14.  Savannah State outscored Alabama A&M 10-6 during the rest of the set for the five point set win and the match win.
 
The Bulldogs were led by Paris Smith with eight kills, Meredith Sieck with 16 assists and Cierra Davis with eight digs. 
 
Savannah State 3, Grambling State 2
Rosado led the Lady Tigers with nine kills and added six digs, while Chenault added five kills with a .333 hitting percentage and five blocks and Sanford added four kills with a .333 hitting percentage.
 
Quint led the team with 16 assists and added six digs, while Gonzalez added 14 assists, seven digs and three kills and Melendez led the team with a match-high 20 digs and added four service aces.  Freshman defensive specialist Chara Robbins led the team with a match-high five service aces.
 
The Lady Tigers scored seven of the first eight points in the first set to take a 7-1 lead, but Grambling State scored the next four points to pull within two points, 7-5.  Savannah State scored five of the next six points to increase its lead to six, 12-6, but GSU scored four of the next six points to pull within four points, 14-10, forcing a Savannah State timeout. After the timeout, the Lady Tigers outscored GSU 11-4 during the rest of the set for the 11 point set win and to take a 1-0 match lead.
 
Grambling State scored 13 of the first 18 points in the second stanza to take an eight-point lead, 13-5, but the Lady Tigers scored the next three points to pull within five points, 14-8.  GSU scored five of the next six points to increase the lead to 10 points, 19-9, but despite Savannah State outscoring the Tigers 9-6 during the rest of the set, GSU held on to win the set by seven points and to tie the match at one.
 
The Lady Tigers scored four of the first five points in the third frame to take a 4-1 lead, but Grambling State scored five of the next seven points to tie the set at six.  GSU outscored Savannah State 19-9 during the rest of the set to win the set by 10 points and to take a 2-1 lead.
 
Savannah State scored nine of the first 14 points in the fourth set to take a four-point lead, 9-5, but back-to-back Grambling State kills cut the lead to two points, 9-7.  The Lady Tigers outscored GSU 9-2 to take a nine-point lead, 18-9, but the Tigers scored the next five points to pull within four points, 18-14.  SSU scored the next six points to increase its lead to nine points, 24-15, and after each team traded an attack error gave the Lady Tigers the nine point set win and to tie the match at two.
 
The Lady Tigers scored four of the first five points in the final stanza for a 4-1 lead, but back-to-back Grambling State points cut the lead to a point, 4-3.  Savannah State outscored GSU 11-5 during the rest of the set, including back-to-back service aces by Robbins, to give SSU the seven point set win and the match win.
 
The Tigers were led by Chasity Nicks with 11 kills, Jaivienna Jones with 10 kills, Diemend Richardson with 20 assists, Taylon Moy with 11 assists and Erineka Mollere with 18 digs. 
 
The Lady Tigers travel 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 later in the week.  SSU starts with Morehead State University Friday at 3 p.m., followed by a doubleheader Saturday against Davidson College at 10 a.m. and host College of William & Mary at 12:30 p.m.
 
Short Box Score (Match)
2017 Savannah State Volleyball
Savannah State vs Alabama A&M (Aug 26, 2017 at Montgomery, Ala.)
 
Savannah State def. Alabama A&M 27-25,25-20,25-20
 
  Savannah State (1-1) (Kills-aces-blocks) - COLBERT,Charlinda 10-0-1;
  CHENAULT,TYRAN 8-0-3; RULLAN VILANOVA,AMAN 7-1-2; GONZALEZ,Salma
  7-3-0; ROSADO,JENNIFER 6-1-1; SANFORD,Brooke 5-0-0; JONES,Jademone
  1-0-0; FULLER,Oneillia 1-0-0; ROBBINS,CHARA 0-1-0; QUINT,ALEE 0-1-0;
  GALLON,Ayree 0-1-0; MELENDEZ,Leiri 0-1-0; Totals 45-9-4.0. (Assists) -
  QUINT,ALEE 20; GONZALEZ,Salma 16. (Dig leaders) - MELENDEZ,Leiri 22;
  GONZALEZ,Salma 5
 
  Alabama A&M (0-2) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Paris Smith 8-0-0; Courtney
  Oliver 7-0-3; Jaelin Gant 7-0-0; Terra Brooks 5-0-3; Syretha Pride
  5-1-1; Meredith Sieck 1-2-0; Riley Balsmeyer 0-0-1; Cierra Davis
  0-1-0; Totals 33-4-4.0. (Assists) - Meredith Sieck 16; Riley Balsmeyer
  12. (Dig leaders) - Cierra Davis 8; Meredith Sieck 6
 
  Site: Montgomery, Ala. (Lockhart Gymnasium)
  Date: Aug 26, 2017   Attend: 59   Time: 1:12   
  Referees: Dawn Dismukes, Kenith Booker
 
Short Box Score (Match)
2017 Savannah State Volleyball
Grambling State vs Savannah State (Aug 26, 2017 at Montgomery, Ala.)
 
Savannah State def. Grambling State 25-14,18-25,15-25,25-16,15-8
 
  Grambling State (0-2) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Chasity Nicks 11-0-2;
  Jaivienna Jones 10-0-1; Kevreion Ward 9-1-1; Tess Reynolds 6-0-3;
  Linzy Woods 5-4-5; Talicia Lang 4-0-0; Erineka Mollere 0-1-0; Totals
  45-6-9.0. (Assists) - Diemend Richardson 20; Taylon Moy 11. (Dig
  leaders) - Erineka Mollere 18; Teryn Phillips 7
 
  Savannah State (2-1) (Kills-aces-blocks) - ROSADO,JENNIFER 9-1-3;
  CHENAULT,TYRAN 5-0-5; SANFORD,Brooke 4-0-0; GONZALEZ,Salma 3-0-2;
  COLBERT,Charlinda 3-0-0; RULLAN VILANOVA,AMAN 3-0-4; FULLER,Oneillia
  2-0-2; JONES,Jademone 1-0-0; TATUM,Karissa 1-0-1; GALLON,Ayree 0-1-0;
  ROBBINS,CHARA 0-5-0; MELENDEZ,Leiri 0-4-0; Totals 31-11-11.0.
  (Assists) - QUINT,ALEE 16; GONZALEZ,Salma 14. (Dig leaders) -
  MELENDEZ,Leiri 20; GONZALEZ,Salma 7
 
  Site: Montgomery, Ala. (Lockhart Gymnasium)
  Date: Aug 26, 2017   Attend: 76   Time: 1:43   
  Referees: Clyde Cross, Eddie Gray
 
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