BOCA RATON, Fla.  – After a 13-day break from the court, the Savannah State University (2-6) returned to the court with a 3-0 (18-25, 12-25, 15-25) loss to host Florida Atlantic University (8-2) at the FAU Invitational Friday in FAU Arena.
 
Freshman outside hitter Brooke Sanford led the Lady Tigers with eight kills and recorded a .294 hitting percentage, five digs and two assists, while senior setter Alee Quint led the team with 13 assists.
 
Freshman setter Salma Gonzalez led the team with seven digs and added five kills and six assists, while freshman libero Leiri Melendez added six digs.  Junior outside hitter Jennifer Rosado added five kills, all in the third set, with a .400 hitting percentage and three blocks, while freshmen middle blockers Tyran Chenault and Oneilla Fuller each added four kills.  Chenault added three blocks and recorded a .571 hitting percentage and Fuller added two blocks. 
 
FAU scored six of the first seven points in the first set to take a five-point lead, 6-1, forcing a Savannah State timeout.  After the timeout, the Lady Tigers scored five of the next nine points to close within four points, 10-6, but the Owls scored six of the next seven points to take a nine-point lead, 16-7.  SSU scored the next three points to close the gap back to six points, 16-10, but FAU outscored SSU 9-8 during the rest of the set to win the set and to take a 1-0 match lead.
 
After a Sanford kill to start the second stanza, FAU scored the next five points to take a four-point lead, 5-1.  With the Owls still holding a four-point lead at 8-4, the Lady Tigers scored the next three points to close within two points, 9-7.  FAU outscored SSU 16-5 during the rest of the set to win the set and to take a 2-0 match lead.
 
The Owls scored the first six points of the final frame for a 6-0 lead, forcing a Savannah State timeout.  After the timeout, the Lady Tigers scored nine of the next 16 points to close within four points, 13-9, but FAU outscored SSU 12-6 during the rest of the set to win the set and the match.
 
The Owls were led by Abbi Reid with 12 kills and a .556 hitting percentage, Ivone Martinez with 35 assists and Kori Varney with 13 digs.
 
The Lady Tigers finish the tournament with a doubleheader Saturday with Stetson University at 11 a.m. and North Dakota State University at 1 p.m.
 
Short Box Score (Match)
2017 Savannah State Volleyball
Savannah State vs FAU (Sept 15 2017 at Boca Raton, Fla.)
 
 FAU def. Savannah State 25-18,25-12,25-15
 
  Savannah State (2-6) (Kills-aces-blocks) - SANFORD,Brooke 8-0-0;
  GONZALEZ,Salma 5-0-0; ROSADO,Jennifer 5-0-3; FULLER,Oneillia 4-0-2;
  CHENAULT,Tyran 4-0-3; RULLAN VILANOVA,Aman 3-0-1; Totals 29-0-5.0.
  (Assists) - QUINT,Alee 13. (Dig leaders) - GONZALEZ,Salma 7;
  MELENDEZ,Leiri 6
 
  FAU (8-2) (Kills-aces-blocks) - REID, Abbi 12-0-0; TEKAVEC, Kristi
  8-0-2; MARION, Mimi 8-0-1; DIXON, Gabrielle 8-0-1; KAME, Sigourney
  6-0-0; MARTINEZ, Ivone 1-0-0; CARDONA, Alex 1-2-0; TEKAVEC, Dena
  0-4-0; VARNEY, Kori 0-2-0; Totals 44-8-3.0. (Assists) - MARTINEZ,
  Ivone 35. (Dig leaders) - VARNEY, Kori 13; CARDONA, Alex 7
 
  Site: Boca Raton, Fla. (FAU Arena)
  Date: Sept 15 2017   Attend:     Time: 1:17   
  Referees:
 
Tigers Online
www.ssuathletics.com
Twitter | @savstatetigers
Facebook | Instagram
YouTube | Pinterest