Women's Volleyball | 8/27/2018 3:42:00 PM

SAVANNAH, Ga. – The Savannah State University women's volleyball kicks off the 2018 season with a trip to Charleston, S.C., to face Charleston Southern University (2-1) Tuesday.
 
Head coach Edric Poitier is returning for his third season at SSU and his 14^th overall.  Last season, the volleyball team won four matches against Division I opponents, the most in school history, and started the season 2-1. 
 
The Lady Tigers return six student-athletes with sophomores of middle blocker Tyran Chenault, libero Leiri Lee Melendez Rodriguez, right side hitter Karissa Tatum, setter Salma Mia Gonzalez Sosa and middle blocker Oneillia Fuller and redshirt freshman De'Antoniette Rodriguez-Hairston.
 
Chenault led the team 141 kills and was third with 1.47 kills per set and led the team with 82.0 total blocks and 0.85 blocks per set, while Melendez Rodríguez led the team with 287 digs, 3.12 digs per set. González Sosa recorded 1.21 kills per set, 2.97 assists per set and 1.85 digs per set, while Fuller recorded 1.38 kills per set and 0.40 blocks per set.  
 
This season, Savannah State welcomes eight newcomers, including three transfers.  Libero Liz Domary Ortiz Munoz, a Coamo, Puerto Rico native, transferred from Coffeyville Community College, while middle blocker Jamese Scott, a Conyers, Ga., native, transferred from Life University and outside hitter Katelyn Atchison, a Vestavia, Ala., native, transferred from Fredrick Community College.
 
The five freshmen are setter Valeria Nicole Aldarondo Lopez (Isabela, Puerto Rico / Cairb Christian School), outside hitter Gabrielle Wells (Marietta, Ga. / Sprayberry HS), outside hitter Jeilynn Brown (Cleveland, Ohio / Shaker Heights HS), middle blocker Norian Ceballos Plaza (Lioza, Puerto Rico / CIEM HS) and setter Erin Jackson (Marietta, Ga. / Hillgrove HS).
 
The Lady Tigers are looking to replace nine letterwinners from last season, including Alee Quint, who led the team with 4.31 assists per set and Amanda Sofia Rullan Vilanova, who led the team with 1.52 kills per set along with Jennifer Rosado with 1.52 kills per set and 0.56 blocks per set. 
 
The Lady Tigers head south for the Panther Fest in Miami, Fla., this weekend for three matches.  SSU starts with host Florida International University Thursday at 7 p.m., followed by a doubleheader Friday with University of Delaware at 9:30 a.m. and Chicago State University at 3:30 p.m.
 
Savannah State returns home for its home opener Wednesday at 6 p.m. against The Citadel.
 
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