Box Score AUGUSTA, Ga.- The Savannah State University women's volleyball team defeated Paine College in three straight sets to win the Paine Tri-Match which was held September 9, 2023 on the Paine Campus in the HEAL Complex.
 
SSU won by scores of 25-15, 25-20 and 25-20 against their former Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference rivals to improve to 2-1 on the season.
 
Savannah State led from start to finish in the first set, had one tie in the second set while the third set featured ten ties and eight lead changes.
 
The Lady Tigers led 11-2 in the first set and increased that to 15-5. SSU led by as many as 12 in the set and didn't let their lead get below nine.
 
Kills by Destinee Langston, Allena Norton and Tiana Curry opened the second set for SSU as they raced out to a 3-0 lead. Paine tied the set at 3 but SSU answered with four straight points which forced the Lions to call a time out. With Savannah State ahead 17-15, the Lady Tigers added six straight points to put the set out of reach.
 
Down by three in the final set, Paine reeled off six unanswered points to take a 6-3 lead but Savannah State responded with four straight points to go ahead 7-6. It remained closed and with Paine leading 19-18, Savannah State scored five consecutive points to go ahead for good.
 
As a team, Savannah State had 39 kills, 5 aces, 3 blocks, 34 assists and 9 digs while Paine had 32 kills, 5 aces, 5 blocks, 29 assists and 32 digs.
 
Langston led Savannah State with 12 kills and 2 aces. Dorothea Ruffin had 2 blocks and Kloe Ludy had 10 digs. Jessee Grubesic had 18 assists and Sydney Harville had 12.
 
Paine was led by Kelsey Williams who had 25 assists and 7 digs. Soliel Johnson had 2 blocks while Akirah McCrae had 8 kills and Demi McKeever and Jordan Fortson had two aces each.
 
The Lady Tigers will travel to Benedict College on Sept. 11 for a 6 p.m. match and will return home to Tiger Arena on Sept. 13 to face Paine at 6 p.m.