ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – Savannah State closed out the non-conference portion of its schedule Tuesday evening, falling to Flagler College in straight sets inside Flagler Gymnasium at Clark Family Court.
The Saints defeated the Lady Tigers 25-12, 25-16 and 25-12, improving to 10-2 on the season while Savannah State dropped to 1-6.
Flagler set the tone offensively in the opening set, recording 13 kills against just one attack error while hitting .667. Savannah State collected seven kills in the frame, but eight attack errors limited the Lady Tigers to a -.042 hitting percentage as the Saints pulled away for the 25-12 victory.
The Lady Tigers put together their best offensive performance of the night in the second set. After Flagler opened the frame with a 6-1 run, Savannah State settled in and stayed within striking distance, trailing 15-10 midway through the set. SSU finished the second with nine kills and just four errors on 26 attempts for a .192 hitting percentage. Flagler, however, countered with 17 kills and hit .483 to take the set 25-16 and build a 2-0 advantage in the match.
Savannah State was even more efficient offensively in the third set, committing no attack errors while registering six kills on 21 attempts for a match-best .286 hitting percentage. The Saints maintained control, though, finishing the frame with 16 kills on their way to another 25-12 victory to complete the sweep.
Nyalah Smith paced the Savannah State offense with seven kills. Kayden Lawrence and Anaya Yates added four kills apiece. Setter Amiyah Walker finished with a team-high 13 assists to go along with three digs, while Lela Curry added three assists and Kira Raby contributed two assists and three digs.
Defensively, Faith Woods led the Lady Tigers with eight digs. Harmony Flagg, Lawrence and Jasbrielle Veal each contributed a block.
Savannah State finished the match with 22 kills, 18 assists, 19 digs and two team blocks while hitting .141. Flagler produced 46 kills, 45 assists, 39 digs, 10 service aces and five blocks while hitting .493 for the match.
Marley Middlebrooks led Flagler with a match-high 12 kills and 10 digs while hitting .588 and adding four service aces. Katherine Rank followed with 11 kills on a .714 hitting percentage and three blocks, while Gia Lowe added nine kills and three blocks.
Savannah State will now turn its attention to Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play. The Lady Tigers travel to Albany, Georgia, for the first SIAC Crossover of the season on Friday and Saturday.
SSU opens SIAC play as they take part in the first SIAC Crossover of the season in Albany, Georgia at the Jones Brothers HPER Complex on the campus of Albany State University. The Lady Tigers will open Crossover play on Friday against Kentucky State at 11:30 a.m. before facing Central State at 4:30 p.m. Savannah State conclude the Crossover on Saturday against Spring Hill at 1 p.m. and Miles at 6 p.m.
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