SAVANNAH, Ga.- After their season opener against Middle Georgia State University was canceled, the Savannah State University Lady Tigers volleyball squad opened their 2023 season on September 6 with a 0-3 loss to  Albany State University on their home court in Tiger Arena.
 
SSU fell in all three sets by scores of  16-25, 24-26 and 19-25.
 
The first set started off with the teams being neck and neck with five ties.
 
With Albany State leading 10-9, the Rams expanded their lead to 13-9 following a kill by Sydney Melton.  Savannah State closed their gap to 13-10 after an attack error by ASU but the Rams responded with five straight point to pull ahead 18-10. Savannah State once again rallied to pull within 18-13 after back-to-back blocks by Allena Norton.
 
Albany State finished the first set with a 7-3 spurt to claim the win.
 
The second set featured eight ties.
 
Midway through the set, Savannah State led by one but kills by Norton, Montana Disegna (2) and Tiana Curry gave the home team a 19-16 edge. Tied at 22, kills by Norton kept the game tied at 24 but Albany State (1-5 overall, 1-0 SIAC) scored the final two points to earn the hard fought win.
 
The final set saw SSU fall behind early and forced to play catch-up. The Lady Tigers were down as many as seven points before stringing together a 10-3 rally to tie the set at 16 apiece. Albany State responded by scoring four the next five points and went on to win the set by six points.
 
As a team, SSU had 32 kills and 30 assists. Albany State had 43 kills, 40 assists and a pair of aces. Both teams had 70 digs and nine blocks each.
 
Norton led Savannah State with ten kills and five blocks. Sydney Harville and Jessee Grubesic had 13 assists apiece. Kloe Ludy had 24 digs followed by Destinee Langston (14) and AaLiyah Mitchell (13).
 
Albany State leaders were Sydney Melton (10 kills and 15 kills), Kaylin Teasley (4 blocks and 1 ace), Natalie Onozie (21 assists), Alia Gomez (15 kills) and Mimi Harris (1 ace).
 
The loss drops Savannah State to 0-1 overall and 0-1 in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
 
SSU will return to action Sept. 9 by participating in the Paine College Tri-Match on Augusta, Georgia. Savannah State will play Carolina University at 2 p.m. and Paine at 4 p.m.