SAVANNAH, Ga.- The Savannah State volleyball team ran their home record to 4-2 with a 3-1 win over Benedict on October 6, 2023 at Tiger Arena.

Benedict won the opening set but Savannah State won the next three to win the match.

SSU won by scores of 22-25, 25-23, 25-14, 27-25.

Savannah State was led by Allena Norton who had 22 kills, two aces, three digs and three blocks.

After getting just 14 kills in the first set, the Lady Tigers had 18 kills in the second and third sets and 17 in the fourth set for a total of 67.

The first set was tied at 21 but back-to-back kills by Kaiah Green and Cana Smith put Benedict ahead 23-21. SSU answered with a kill by Norton to pull within one but Benedict won the set with two more kills by Green and Smith.

The visiting Tigers jumped out to a 3-1 advantage in the next set and it remained close until the end. Tied at 23, Savannah State ended the set with back-to-back kills from Norton and Destinee Langston to tie the match at 1-1.

SSU held a slim 3-2 lead in the third set before exploding with a 7-0 run. Savannah State then used a 4-0 spurt to go ahead 19-8 following two kills by Montana DiSegna and one by Norton. Benedict was able to trim their deficit to seven before SSU ended the set with a 5-1 run.

There were eight ties and eight lead changes in the fourth set. With the set knotted at 25, back-to-back kills by Langston earned SSU the conference win.

Langston added 19 kills in the win while Jessee Grubesic had 53 assists. Kloe Ludy had 41 digs while Tiana Curry had 19 and Aaliyah Mitchell had 18.

The win gives Savannah State a 11-6 overall record and a 7-5 mark in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

Benedict (11-7, 8-5 SIAC) lost their fourth match in a row and was led by Deisire Young who had 14 kills, Krislen Lucas (6 blocks), Jadyn Murry (24 assists) and Jordan Williams (25 digs).

Savannah State will return to action on October 9 when they travel to Columbia, South Carolina for a 6 p.m. match.