BOONE, N.C. – In a match that featured 32 ties and 17 lead changes, the Towson University volleyball team battled for a 3-1 win over Appalachian State in its opening contest of the Appalachian State Invitational Friday night. Senior Julymar Otero and sophomore Marrisa Wonders each posted a double-double performance to lead the Tigers (4-0) to their fourth straight win.

THE BASICS
Towson 3, Appalachian State 1 (22-25, 25-23, 25-23, 25-18)
Holmes Center, Boone, N.C.
Day One of the Appalachian State Invitational

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The first set was a battle that saw neither team take a lead of more than three points throughout. The two squads fought through 12 ties and seven lead changes. With the set tied at 20-20, the Mountaineers (2-3) took advantage of a Tiger service error, a kill and a block to take a 23-20 edge. Towson responded with a kill from Otero and an attack error by the Mountaineers and pulled to within one, 23-22. However a kill from Cassidy Stephenson and an attack error by the Tigers gave Appalachian State a 25-22 set win.
• The second set was even tighter as the two teams played through 15 ties and eight lead changes. With the set tied at 23-23, a block from juniors Jocelyn Kuilan and Olamide Sonuga allowed Towson to take a one-point advantage. A kill from Kuilan on the next serve secured a 25-23 set win for the Tigers and tied the match at 1-1.
• Towson jumped out to an 8-3 lead in the third set as Kuilan had three early kills. The Tigers pushed their lead to 12-8 on back-to-back kills from Otero. The two teams traded points and found themselves tied at 18-18. Appalachian State used a 4-0 run to take a 22-18 lead. Towson responded with kills from Otero and junior Carola Biver and took advantage of a pair of Mountaineer attack errors and tied the set at 22-22. The two sides went back-and-forth before a kill from Kuilan and a bad set by Appalachian State gave Towson a 25-23 set win and a 2-1 lead in the match.
• A block from sophomore Silvia Grassini and Biver gave Towson an 8-4 advantage in the fourth set. A kill from Otero started a 4-0 run which extended the Tiger lead to 17-12. Wonders had a kill which helped the Tigers take a 20-14 lead. The two teams continued to battle before a block from Sonuga closed out a 25-18 set win and victory in the match.    

 
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• Towson held its fourth straight opponent to a hitting percentage under .200 as Appalachian State posted a .113 percentage for the match.
• Wonders contributed her fourth straight double-double with 27 assists and 13 digs. She now has 24 career double-doubles.
• Otero had her second straight double-double in the contest. She tied for the team lead with 14 kills while adding 12 digs and three service aces.
• Kuilan tied for the team lead with 14 kills while Biver finished with 12 kills.
• Junior Peyton Moyles had 19 assists while reigning Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Defensive Player of the Week Anna Holehouse had 17 digs and seven assists.
• Towson earned just its second win ever over Appalachian State and first since the 1991 season.
• Kara Spicer led Appalachian State with 17 kills.

 
The Tigers wrap up the invitational with a pair of matches on Saturday. Towson takes on Virginia at 10 a.m. and ETSU at 4 p.m.