AUGUSTA, Ga.- Destinee Langston had 20 kills, 20 digs and five aces to lead the Savannah State University volleyball team to their first win of the season with a 3-1 victory over Carolina University in the Paine College Tri-Meet which was held in the HEAL Complex.
 
Carolina won the first set 25-19 but SSU responded with three straight wins by scores of 25-13, 31-29 and 25-21.
 
In the first set, the Bruins jumped out to a 7-1 lead and stretched their advantage to 15-6 before Savannah State roared back to tie the game at 17. Carolina answered by reeling off five straight points and went on to win by six points.
 
Savannah State (1-1) scored the first three points of the second set. After Carolina scored twice, SSU added five consecutive points to increase their lead to 8-2.
 
Ahead 9-7, SSU scored nine straight points to increase their advantage to 18-7. Thanks to a couple of errors by Carolina, the Lady Tigers had their largest lead of the set at 23-11. Both teams finished the set with two scores apiece as Savannah State tied the score at 1-1.
 
The third set started as if the Bruins would run away without a challenge as they started out with a 8-1 lead but SSU battled back and tied the set at 23. Down 29-28, a kill by Savannah State's Destiny Gaines tied the score at 29. SSU walked away with the win when Langston caused Carolina to make a pair of errors for the final two points.
 
Savannah State scored their first four points in the fourth set and led 10-4 before Carolina trimmed their deficit to 10-9. The Bruins stayed close the remainder of the way but could not get any closer than two points down the stretch.
 
Allena Norton added 13 kills and four blocks for SSU, AaiLiyah Mitchell had five aces and Kloe Ludy had 20 digs. Jessee Grubesic had 31 assists and Sydney Harville had 14.
 
Carolina (3-3) was led by Sarah Elizabeth Samuels (11 kills), Syvannah Poore (3 aces), Shyanne Murphy (2 blocks), Kamra King (26 assists) and Desiare Pisano (11 digs).
 
For the match, SSU dominated with 51 kills, 12 aces, 8 blocks, 48 assists and 74 digs. Carolina had 40 kills, 5 aces, 4 blocks, 37 assists and 54 digs.