SAVANNAH, Ga.- Playing their final non-conference match of the season, the Savannah State volleyball team lost to NAIA opponent Talladega 3-1 in Tiger Arena on October 2, 2023.
 
Savannah State won the first set 25-19 but fell in the next three sets to the visiting Hurricanes 21-25, 22-25, 20-25.
 
The Lady Tigers held a slim 20-19 lead  in the first set before closing it out with the final five points to get the win. Destinee Langston had five kills in the first set while Allena Norton and Tiana Curry had two kills each.
 
With the score tied at 17 in the second set, Talladega scored five straight points to go ahead 22-17. Kills by Norton, Curry and Langston pulled SSU within 23-21 but Talladega scored the final two points to win the set and tie the match at 1-1.
 
Savannah State scored the first three points of the third set but Talladega answered with six consecutive points of their own to take the lead. SSU was down 15-11 but battled back with a 6-0 run to  take a 17-15 advantage. The Lady Tigers led 20-18 but Talladega scored seven of the final nine points to win and go ahead 2-1.
 
In the fourth set and down by eight, SSU used a 4-0 run which was aided by kills by Curry, Montana DiSegna and Norton to get within 24-20 but could not get any closer as Talladega closed out the set with a kill by Giovana Costarelli to earn the victory and win the match.
 
The loss gives SSU a 10-6 record.
 
Norton finished the night with 13 kills while Langston chipped in 11. Gaines had five blocks and Jessee Grubesic had 35 assists. Kloe Ludy and Curry had 22 assists apiece and  Grubesic had 20. Norton, Curry and Aaliyah Mitchell all had one ace each.
 
Talladega (18-7) was led by Zyaire Garrit (19 kills), Costarelli (3 aces and 21 assists) and Briyith Echeverri (32 digs). Garrit, Echeverri and Kortni Johnson all had 3 blocks.
 
Savannah State will resume conference play on October 6 when they host Benedict at Tiger Arena at 7 p.m. SSU defeated Benedict 3-2 in Columbia, South Carolina on September 11.