MACON, Ga. – The Towson University volleyball team rallied from a 2-0 deficit for a 3-2 win over USC-Upstate in the opener of the Mercer Tournament in Macon, Georgia. Senior Jessica Lewis powered the Tigers (10-1) to their fourth straight win with 23 kills and 20 digs.

THE BASICS
Towson 3, USC Upstate 2 (24-26, 20-25, 25-19, 25-15, 15-13)
Hawkins Arena, Macon, Ga.
Day One of the Mercer Tournament

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The first set proved to be a back-and-forth battle as the two teams fought through six ties and two lead changes. With the set tied at 24-24, the Spartans (5-8) took advantage of a kill from Emily Koelling and a service ace from Madison Haake to win the set 26-24 and take an early lead.
• The Spartans pushed their lead to 2-0 with a 25-20 second set win. USC-Upstate used the block to their advantage as they tallied six team blocks in the set. An attack error by the Tigers gave the Spartans an early 15-8 lead. The Tigers pulled to within two, 19-17 on a kill from junior Payton Windell. A service ace from freshman Annie Ertz made it a one-point set, 19-18. However, the Spartans scored six of the final eight points, including back-to-back service aces from Kaleigh Kelley.
• Tied at 12-12 in the third set, the Tigers used a 6-1 run to take an 18-13 lead. Lewis had a kill and a service ace during that stretch. Another kill from Lewis made it 22-18 in favor of the Tigers. A service ace from Ertz and a kill from Lewis secured a 25-19 set win and made it 2-1 in the match.
• A block from redshirt senior Candace Steadman allowed the Tigers to open up a 10-5 lead in the fourth set. A kill from Ertz allowed the Black and Gold attack to extend their advantage to 19-11. The two teams continued to battle and trade points before a kill from Lewis sealed a 25-15 set win and tied the match at 2-2.
• The fifth set was again a back-and-forth affair as the two teams battled through seven ties and five lead changes. Towson trailed 13-12 before a block from freshman Marrisa Wonders and Lewis and a kill from Lewis made it 14-13 in favor of the Tigers. An attack error by the Tigers secured a 15-13 set win and victory in the match for the Tigers.

 
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• The Tigers won their fourth straight match.
• Lewis recorded her second straight double-double and fourth of the season. She matched her season-high with 23 kills while recording a career-high 20 digs.
• Sophomore Meredith Dignan had a career-high 18 digs with three assists for the Tigers.
• Ertz matched her career-high with nine kills and a career-high 17 digs.
• It was a battle of the blocks in the match as USC-Upstate had 13 team blocks and the Tigers had 12. It was the third time in the last four matches the Tigers have recorded 10 or more team blocks. Eight Tigers recorded at least one block in the match. That group was led by senior Lindsay Flaherty who matched her career-high with nine blocks.
• Koelling led USC-Upstate with 11 kills.

The Tigers are back in action later today when they face host Mercer at 7 p.m.