NEWARK, Del. – The Towson University volleyball team battled through 17 ties and five lead changes for a 3-1 win at the University of Delaware in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) opener for both squads. Senior Jessica Lewis led the Tigers (13-2, 1-0 CAA) with a season-high 25 kills.
 
THE BASICS
Towson 3, Delaware 1 (29-31, 25-22, 25-23, 25-17)
Bob Carpenter Center, Newark, Del.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The first set was a back-and-forth affair as the two squads battled through 13 ties and four lead changes. Lewis' 14th kill of the set gave Towson a 29-28 lead. However, Delaware called timeout and after the break a pair of errors by the Tigers and a block from Alexa Swann gave the home team a 31-29 set win.
• A kill from redshirt senior Candace Steadman gave Towson a 9-5 lead in the second set and forced the Blue Hens (6-8, 0-1 CAA) to use an early timeout. Three straight kills from Steadman pushed the Towson advantage to 18-12 and Delaware called its second timeout. A kill from freshman Annie Ertz extended the Tiger lead to 22-17. Delaware used a 5-2 run to pull to within two, 24-22 and Towson called timeout. After the break, a Steadman kill sealed a 25-22 set win and tied the match at 1-1.
• Towson jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the third set as sophomore Carola Biver had a pair of early kills and a block assist. Delaware battled back and pulled to within one, 12-11. A 4-0 run by the Tigers, highlighted by a pair of kills from senior Lindsay Flaherty, extended the Towson lead to 16-11. A kill from sophomore Jocelyn Kuilan pushed the Towson advantage to 20-17. The two teams traded points before a kill from Kuilan and an attack error by the Blue Hens gave Towson a 25-23 set win and a 2-1 lead in the match.
• The fourth set saw the Tigers again jump out to an early advantage, 6-0 and Delaware called an early timeout. Lewis had a pair of kills and a block during that run. Back-to-back kills from Kuilan extended the visitors advantage to 10-2. A kill from junior Payton Windell put Towson ahead 19-10. A service error by the Blue Hens gave Towson a 25-17 set win and victory in the match.  

 
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• The Tigers hit .230 in the match while limiting the Blue Hens to a .161 hitting percentage. Delaware out blocked the Tigers 14-8.
• Lewis led the way with her second straight double-double as she finished with a season-high 25 kills and 15 digs. Kuilan contributed 16 kills while hitting .419 and added eight digs.
• Freshman Marrisa Wonders dished out a match-high 43 assists to go along with a season-high 16 digs. Redshirt sophomore Anna Holehouse recorded a season and match-high 26 digs.
• Biver and Flaherty each had a team-high six blocks. Biver also contributed eight kills and 12 digs.
• Daria Robinson led Delaware with 13 kills while Autumn Jenkins had 11 kills and 17 digs.  

The Tigers are back in action on Friday, Sept. 30 when they host College of Charleston at 7 p.m. That will be the Tigers' "Hometown Heroes" match and all military personnel and first responders can receive four complimentary tickets to the match.