TOWSON, Md. – Freshman Jocelyn Kuilan and junior transfer Jessica Lewis combined for 21 kills and 21 digs as the Towson University volleyball team fell to the University of Tennessee, 3-2 on day one of the Towson Invitational in SECU Arena.

THE BASICS
The Towson Invitational, Day One, Tennessee 3, Towson 2
SECU Arena, Towson, Md.


HOW IT HAPPENED

• Towson opened the first set on a 9-5 run and quickly pushed the lead to 16-8 on a block from redshirt junior Candace Steadman. The two teams traded points before a 3-0 run by the Volunteers made it 20-18 and forced Towson to call timeout. The Tigers responded out of the timeout, scoring five of the next seven points and securing the 25-20 set win.
• Towson hit .407 to Tennessee's .345 in the first set. Steadman led the Tigers with four kills on five attempts and no errors in the set (.800).
• The two squads battled early in the second set and found themselves tied at 9-9. Back-to-back kills from Kuilan gave the home team an 11-9 advantage. However Tennessee (2-0) scored the next seven straight points and took a 16-11 lead. The Volunteers went on to claim a 25-18 set victory and tied the match at 1-1.
• Tennessee hit .312 in the second set and held Towson to a .143 clip. Kanisha Jimenez had five kills and four digs for the Volunteers.
• A kill from sophomore Julymar Otero helped Towson (0-1) open up an 8-3 advantage in the third set. An attack error by the Volunteers pushed the Towson lead to 14-8. The two teams continued to battle and trade points. Tennessee pulled to within one, 22-21 but a service ace from senior Kyana Miller and another attack error by the visitors gave Towson a 25-21 set win and a 2-1 lead in the match.
• Both teams struggled to hit the ball in the third set as Towson hit .156 to Tennessee's .051. Kuilan and Lewis each had three kills and four digs in the set.
• Towson and Tennessee fought for each point early in the fourth but a 5-1 run gave Tennessee a 17-12 advantage. The Volunteers closed the set on a 6-0 run and posted a 25-15 set win which forced the match to a fifth set.
• Tennessee hit .355 to Towson's .065 in the fourth set. Jimenez had six kills for the Volunteers.
• The fifth set was the tightest of the match as there were seven ties and three lead changes. Towson went on top 12-11 on a service ace from Kuilan. Tennessee took timeout after that play and scored four of the final five points to earn a 15-13 set victory and claimed the match 3-2.

QUOTABLE

• "I thought this was the best match you are going to see here all weekend. It was a hard fought match, five sets and a lot of energy in the gym which was exciting," said Towson Head Coach Don Metil.
•  Metil added, "Jocelyn did well, it's nice we have the flexibility to leave her in to serve and play defense. Anna Holehouse was good and I think she can be as good as Paige Sekerak was."

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

•  Senior Haley Pa'akaula had 14 kills and 15 digs for her first double-double of the season and 11th of her career.
•  Holehouse had 24 digs to lead the defensive efforts after sitting out last season as a redshirt
• The Tigers' 11 service aces were the most for the team since they had 13 against the Citadel last September.
• Junior Lindsay Flaherty led the team with five blocks and now needs 35 to move into the top 10 for career blocks at Towson.

The Tigers are back in action on day two of the Towson Invitational. They host Manhattan on Saturday, August 29 at 12:15 p.m. and St. Francis (Pa.) at 7 p.m.