BOX SCORE TOWSON, Md. – Behind a team-high 15 blocks, the Towson University volleyball team earned a 3-1 win over St. John's University on Saturday afternoon in SECU Arena. The Tigers captured the Tiger Invitational title after going 3-0 over the weekend and improved to 13-1 on the year.

The tournament title was the Tigers' second of the season. Junior Haley Pa'akaula was named the tournament MVP after tallying 43 kills, 25 digs, seven blocks and four service aces. Pa'akaula was joined on the all-tournament team by senior Saitaua Iosia, who had 37 kills, 18 digs and nine blocks. Shawna-Lei Santos and Aleksandra Wachowicz from St. John's, Liz Reikow from Kent State and Emily Miron from North Dakota State were also named to the all-tournament team.

"We told the team that it was going to be a battle of two offensive teams going at it today," said Tiger Head Coach Don Metil. "Whoever picked up the defensive side would probably prevail, we got the matchups we wanted early and digging and passing in system helped us."

Towson got off to a quick start in the first set as a block from senior Victoria Williams and sophomore Lindsay Flaherty put the Tigers ahead 7-3. A service ace from Flaherty increased the Towson advantage to 11-7 and forced St. John's (11-4) to call timeout. The two teams continued to battle as a kill from Williams made it 14-9 in favor of the home team. A block from Iosia and Flaherty pushed the Towson advantage to 18-11. The two teams traded points before an attack error by the Red Storm gave Towson a 25-13 set victory.

Iosia had four first set kills for the Tigers while Flaherty recorded six blocks in the first set.

The two teams battled early and were tied at 8-8 in the second set. A kill from Pa'akaula and a service ace from Iosia made it 11-8 in favor of the Tigers. A service ace from Capri Tirrell pushed the Towson lead to 14-11. The two squads continued to fight for each point. A kill from Iosia put Towson in front 20-15. After trading points, a ball handling error by St. John's gave Towson a 25-20 second set win and a 2-0 lead in the match.

Pa'akaula had six kills in the set while redshirt sophomore Candace Steadman recorded a pair of blocks.

The third set was the closest of the match as the two teams battled through 14 ties and seven lead changes. The Red Storm went ahead 18-16 and that two-point margin proved tough for the Tigers to overcome. Three times, the Tigers cut their deficit to one only to see St. John's go back up by two. Towson went on top 23-22 on an attack error by the Red Storm. However, St. John's battled back and earned a 25-23 set victory on a kill from Wachowicz. The Red Storm set win sent the match to a fourth set.

The Tigers came out firing to start the fourth set as a service ace from Pa'akaula gave Towson an 8-4 advantage. A kill from Williams pushed the lead to 13-9 and forced a St. John's timeout. The Red Storm got back-to-back service aces from Wachowicz to pull to within two, 16-14. The two teams continued to battle and trade points as a block form Steadman and Iosia made it 19-17. A kill from Pa'akaula closed out the 25-21 set win and victory in the match.

Pa'akaula led the Tigers with 18 kills while hitting .349 in the match. She added five digs and three blocks for the Tigers. Iosia finished with 17 kills, hit .342 with two digs and five blocks. Flaherty tied her career-high with eight blocks while Steadman had six blocks. Redshirt junior Aimee Schubert dished out 24 assists to go with eight digs while senior Paige Sekerak had 15 digs.

Wachowicz led all players with 20 kills and seven digs in the match. Santos dished out 41 assists with four digs.

Towson, which matched the 2001 squad for the best 14-match start in school history, will be back in action on Wednesday, Sept. 24. The Tigers open Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) play when they host Delaware in SECU Arena at 7 p.m.