TOWSON, Md. – The Towson University volleyball team dropped a heartbreaking 3-2 decision to the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) leader College of Charleston on Friday afternoon CAA play. The Tigers had three players post “double-double” performances in the match; it was the first time since 2010 that happened.
The match was a back and forth affair as the two sides battled through 16 ties and four lead changes.
The Cougars (22-5, 12-1 CAA) jumped out to a 14-8 lead in the first set behind a kill from Sloane White. The visitors extended their advantage to 17-8 on a kill from Darcy Dorton. An attack error by the Tigers made it 21-14 in favor of College of Charleston. A kill from junior Victoria Williams on the next play started a 7-3 run that pulled the Tigers to within three, 24-21. Senior Dayane Van Ass had a pair of kills for the Tigers during that stretch. However, the Cougars used a kill from Dorton to secure the 25-21 set win and an early lead in the match.
To start the second set, the two teams had to battle through five ties early in the action. Tied at 9-9, Towson scored nine of the next 11 points to take an 18-11 advantage in the set. Junior Saitaua Iosia had a pair of kills and a pair of service aces during that run by the home team. Back-to-back kills from Melissa Morello and a block from Morello and Kerstin Koehler pulled the visitors to within four, 20-16. After a Towson timeout, College of Charleston scored three of the four points and made it 21-19. Towson called its second timeout and a pair of Van Ass kills sandwiched around an attack error by the Cougars made it 24-19 in favor of the home team. An attack error by College of Charleston eventually gave Towson a 25-20 set win and tied the match at 1-1.
College of Charleston jumped out to an early 12-8 lead in the third set after a kill from Cara Howley. The two teams traded points and a kill from sophomore Candace Steadman cut the Towson (10-23, 2-11 CAA) deficit to one, 15-14. College of Charleston went back on top 16-14 before a kill from Iosia started a 4-0 run by the Tigers. Those four unanswered points gave the home team the lead back for good in the set. The two teams continued to battle as a service ace from sophomore Kyana Miller gave Towson a 21-18 advantage. The two teams traded points over the next several plays. Van Ass' kill allowed Towson to post a 25-21 set win and take a 2-1 lead in the match.
The Cougars came out fired up to start the fourth set and opened up a 10-6 lead on a kill from Howley. A kill from Steadman and a ball handling error by the Cougars allowed Towson to pull to within one, 11-10. However, College of Charleston scored five of the next seven points to take a 16-12 lead and force a Towson timeout. A kill from Dorton increased the visitors' advantage to 20-16. A kill from Grace Rebarchak finished off the set for the Cougars, 25-20 and forced the match to a fifth set.
A kill from Rebarchak allowed College of Charleston to open up a 7-4 lead in the fifth and deciding set. Towson pulled to within one, 9-8 on a kill by Iosia. The Cougars took a 12-8 advantage only to see the Tigers battle back and tie the set at 12-12. However, that 12th point was the last scored by the Tigers in the set. A pair of kills from Dorton and one from Rebarchak finished off a 15-12 set win for the Cougars and victory in the match.
Iosia recorded her second straight “double-double” and 12th of the year after finishing with 17 kills and 10 digs. She also added three service aces in the contest. Junior Aimee Schubert posted her second straight “double-double” and third of the year with 21 assists and 10 digs. Miller dished out 29 assists to go along with 10 digs for her second “double-double” of the season. Van Ass tied Iosia for the team lead in kills as she finished with 17. Junior Paige Sekerak led the defensive efforts with 19 digs.
Dorton posted a “double-double” to lead the College of Charleston's efforts. She finished with a match-high 26 kills and 16 digs while Taeler Davis contributed 27 assists and 12 digs.
Towson wraps up its 2013 season on Saturday, Nov. 16 when it hosts UNC Wilmington in SECU Arena at 3 p.m. The Tigers will honor their lone senior, Van Ass prior to the start of the match.
