HARRISONBURG, Va. – Senior Julymar Otero posted her third triple-double of the season to lead the Towson University volleyball team to a big 3-1 win at James Madison University in Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) action Sunday. The Tigers (19-3, 5-3 CAA) won their third straight match behind a balanced attack as four Tigers recorded double-digit kills.

THE BASICS
Towson 3, James Madison 1 (23-25, 25-23, 25-21, 25-17)
Sinclair Gymnasium, Harrisonburg, Va.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Tigers quickly jumped out to a 6-2 lead in the first set on a pair of kills from junior Jocelyn Kuilan.
• The two teams traded points before Towson used a 4-2 run to take a 17-14 advantage. Sophomore Annie Ertz had a kill and a service ace during that stretch for the visitors.
• Following a timeout by James Madison (14-3, 5-3 CAA), the Dukes scored five straight points and took a 19-17 edge in the stanza. Sarah Martin had a pair of blocks during that run.
• The two teams battled for each point as a kill from sophomore Marrisa Wonders tied the set at 23-23.
• James Madison took advantage of a kill and a service ace from Kelly Vahos to secure the 25-23 set win and the early lead in the match.
• With the second set tied at 11-11, the Dukes used a 6-3 run to take a 17-14 lead. Bryn Recker had a pair of kills during that stretch that led to a Towson timeout.
• A service ace from Recker pushed the James Madison lead to 20-15.
• Following their second timeout of the set, the Tigers used a block from sophomore Silvia Grassini and Otero to jump start a 10-3 run by the Black and Gold.
• That run gave the Tigers a come from behind 25-23 set win and tied the match at 1-1. Ertz had a pair of kills and a block assist during that stretch for the Tigers.
• Trailing 6-3 in the third set, the Tigers used an 8-1 run to take an 11-7 advantage. Junior Carola Biver had a kill and a service ace during that stretch.
• The two teams continued to battle as a kill from Vahos allowed James Madison to tie the stanza at 16-16.
• Three straight kills from Otero gave the Black and Gold a 19-16 lead and an advantage the Tigers would not relinquish.
• A pair of kills from junior Olamide Sonuga helped Towson extend its lead to 23-19.
• A block from Biver and Grassini secured a 25-21 set win for the Tigers and gave Towson a 2-1 lead in the match.
• A service ace from Kuilan allowed the Tigers to open up a 7-3 lead in the fourth set.
• Towson pushed its lead to 12-6 on a kill from Grassini.
• A kill from Otero gave the visitors a 17-11 lead in the stanza.
• The two teams traded points down the stretch before an attack error by the Dukes closed out a 25-17 set win for the Tigers and gave Towson victory in the match.

 
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• The Tigers hit .240 in the contest while holding James Madison to a .197 hitting percentage. Towson has now held 16 of 22 opponents to a hitting percentage under .200 this season.
• Otero finished with 12 kills, 28 assists and 14 digs for her third triple-double of the season.
• James Madison out blocked the Tigers 14-3 in the match but Towson recorded 64 kills to the Dukes' 44 kills.
• Grassini tied for the team lead with 12 kills as she hit .556 in the contest.
• Biver and Kuilan each contributed 11 kills for the Tigers.
• Wonders had a double-double with 20 assists and 16 digs. Redshirt junior Anna Holehouse led the defensive efforts with 13 digs and seven assists.
• Recker led James Madison with 15 kills and 10 digs.

 
The Tigers are back in action on Friday, Oct. 20 when they host Elon at 7 p.m.