STATESBORO, Ga.- Savannah State dropped two matches in the final day of action in the GATA Challenge which was played at Hanner Fieldhouse.

The Lady Tigers lost to USC Upstate 3-2 (25-14, 16-25, 25-18, 19-25, 8-15) and also suffered a 3-0 setback to host Georgia Southern (14-25, 10-25, 20-25).

In the game with USC Upstate, Ashley Jordan had eight assists and Katelyn Atchison and Leiri Melendez had four digs apiece to help SSU win the first set. Savannah State dropped the second set despite Jordan having six assists and Melendez having nine digs.

SSU bounced back to take the third set as Jordan had seven assists and Salma Gonzalez had six digs. The Spartans won the fourth set even though Gonzalez and Valeria Aldarondo combined for 11 digs. USC Upstate took the match in the fifth and deciding set.

Karissa led Savannah State with 12 kills, Atchison had five aces and Tyran Chenault had five blocks. Jordan (28) and Gonzalez 11) led SSU in assists while Melendez (20) and Aldarondo (15) led the way in digs.

Game leaders for the Spartans (3-10) were Payton Duncan (13 kills) and Dylan Herb (36 assists and 22 digs).

Against Georgia Southern in the first set, SSU trailed 13-10 but the Eagles finished the set with a 12-4 run to pull away. The second set had both teams tied at 2-2 but GSU scored 11 straight points to pull away and Savannah State never recovered. Savannah State battled back from a 16-9 deficit in the third set. SSU (1-11) got as close as 23-20 down the stretch.

For the game, Oneillia  Fuller had eight kills for the Lady Tigers, Jordan had 12 assists while Gonzalez contributed 11 assists and Menendez added 10 digs.

Maddie Bryant had 12 kills for GSU (4-9), Madison Brown had 22 assists, Joscelin Morrow had 11 digs and Lauren Hager had seven blocks.

Savannah State will be back in action September 28 when they open conference play against South Carolina State in Tiger Arena.