NEWARK, Del. – The Towson University volleyball team battled through 23 ties and 11 lead changes for a 3-0 win at the University of Delaware on Friday night in Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) play. The Tigers won their seventh straight match and improved to 21-3, 7-2 in the CAA.

"One of the main motivating things we told the team tonight, this team's different that last year's team because to win a match you have to believe your worthy and this year we believe we are worthy," said Towson Head Coach Don Metil. "We knew the match wasn't going to be easy but it was worth it and the determination carried us late."

Tied at 8-8 in the first set, Towson used a 6-1 run to take a 14-9 lead. Junior Haley Pa'akaula had a kill and a service ace during that run. Delaware (12-12, 5-4 CAA) responded with an 8-4 run which cut the Tiger lead to two, 18-16. Towson scored seven of the final nine points in the set to claim the 25-18 victory. Redshirt sophomore Candace Steadman had a pair of block assists and a kill down the stretch for the Tigers.

A kill from senior Victoria Williams helped Towson open up a 10-7 lead in the second set. Delaware scored five of the next six points and took a 12-11 edge. Alexa Swann had three kills during that stretch for the Blue Hens. A 4-2 run highlighted by a pair of kills from senior Saitaua Iosia gave Towson a 15-14 advantage. Back-to-back service aces from Iosia pushed the Towson lead to 21-18. The two teams traded points down the stretch before a kill from Swann pulled Delaware to within one, 24-23. Towson called timeout and then used a kill from Steadman to close out the set, 25-23. Towson took a 2-0 lead in the match.

A 9-5 run gave Towson a lead to start the third set. Iosia had a pair of kills and a block during that stretch while sophomore Lindsay Flaherty had a pair of block assists. The two teams battled and traded points before a kill from Flaherty put the visitors ahead 18-12. Delaware responded with a 5-1 run which cut the Towson lead to two, 19-17. Katie Hillman had a pair of kills during that stretch. A kill from Williams briefly halted the Blue Hen run before Delaware scores six of the next seven points and took a 23-22 advantage. A kill from Iosia tied the set at 23-23. Towson went on to close out the third set 25-23, on a block from Flaherty and freshman Barbara Lopez and a kill from Iosia.

Iosia led Towson with 12 kills, five digs and two service aces. Pa'akaula added 11 kills and nine digs while Flaherty finished with six kills and four blocks. Redshirt junior Aimee Schubert dished out 21 assists with seven digs while Lopez handed out 18 assists. Senior Paige Sekerak contributed 11 digs and three assists.

Swann led Delaware with 11 kills and three blocks while Julia Anderson dished out 28 assists. Taylor Hollingsworth led the Blue Hens with a match-high 15 digs.

Towson returns to action on Thursday, Oct. 30. The Tigers return home to host three matches in four days starting with Northeastern that Thursday at 7 p.m.