PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – The Towson University volleyball team got double-double performances from seniors Haley Pa'akaula and Kyana Miller in a 3-1 win over the University of Pennsylvania on Saturday evening in the Crowne Plaza Philadelphia West Penn Invitational. Towson matched last year's squad for the second best 10-game start to a season as the Tigers improved to 9-1 on the year.

THE BASICS
Crowne Plaza Philadelphia West Penn Invitational, Day Two, Towson 3 Penn 1
The Palestra, Philadelphia, Pa.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• In a close match that featured 23 ties and 10 lead changes, the Tigers and Quakers (4-3) battled through 12 ties and four lead changes in the first set. Tied at 24-24, the Tigers used a block from redshirt sophomore Annika Rigterink and Pa'akaula to take back the lead. A kill from Pa'akaula sealed a 26-24 first set win for the Tigers.
• Towson hit .333 in the set as six Tigers recorded at least two kills. Pa'akaula led the way with four kills in the set.
• Four straight kills, two each from junior Jessica Lewis and freshman Jocelyn Kuilan gave the Tigers a 6-4 lead in the second set. The two teams battled as back-to-back kills from Lewis pushed the Tiger lead to 18-14 and forced Penn to call timeout. A kill from Rigterink sealed a 25-16 set win for the Tigers and gave the visitors a 2-0 lead in the match.
• Lewis and Kuilan combined for 11 kills in the set as both players hit .545 or better in the set.
• With the third set tied at 20-20, Penn used a 5-0 run to earn a 25-20 set win and force the match to a fourth set.
• Penn hit .243 to Towson's .108 in the set. Alexis Genske had three kills and three digs in the set for the Quakers.
• Towson jumped out to a 14-9 lead in the fourth set on a kill from Kuilan. A kill from Lewis extended the advantage to 19-13 for the Tigers. The two teams traded points and battled as the Quakers pulled to within one, 24-23. However a kill from Rigterink on the next play sealed a 25-23 set win and gave the Tigers a victory in the match.
• Kuilan and Pa'akaula combined for 13 of the Tigers' 18 kills in the fourth set.

QUOTABLE

• "We got a nice balance tonight with three kids hitting for double digit kills," said Towson head coach Don Metil. "We need to work on our serve receive because we struggled with it for most of the night. I thought Jess had a nice bounce back match after struggling to hit the ball this morning."

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• Lewis had a season-high 14 kills and hit .560 for the Tigers after hitting -.444 in the match against Fairfield.
• Pa'akaula had 16 kills and 14 digs for her fifth double-double of the season.
• Miller came off the bench to contribute 21 assists and 13 digs for her first double-double of the year.  
• Kuilan was the third Tiger to hit for double digit kills finishing with 15 and five blocks.
• Towson posted double digit blocks for the second straight match as the Tigers finished with 10 team blocks.

The Tigers return to action on Sunday, Sept. 13 when they face Binghamton at 2 p.m.