BALTIMORE, Md. – The Towson University volleyball team kicked off the Towson/Morgan State Invitational on Thursday night. The Tigers (2-1) swept the Bears (0-4) at Hill Field House 25-15, 26-24, 29-27
 
Irbe Lazda led Towson with 14 kills on .500 hitting percentage and two solo blocks. Nina Cajic added 13 kills on .333 hitting percentage and two solo blocks.
 
Key Stats vs Morgan State:

• Towson held Morgan State to a 0.067 hit percentage across three sets.
• The Tigers registered eight solo blocks for the first time since five years ago today against Miami.

 
How It Happened vs Morgan State:

• The first set started with both teams trading points, then the Tigers scored six consecutive points that included two service aces from Sydney Stewart and three kills from Nina Cajic to have a 7-2 lead.
• Towson continued to grow its lead to 15-6 after four straight points by the Tigers, highlighted by a Sarah Jordan ace.
• The Tigers grew the lead to 20-8, then the Bears scored five of the following six points to cut into Towson's lead, but the Tigers finished strong and won the first set 25-15 on a Sara Wasiakowska kill.
• Both teams opened the second set going back and forth until Morgan State opened up a 15-10 lead after a 6-1 run sparked by Gabriela Hiciano's two kills.
• Towson responded with four of the following five points to reduce the deficit to two, which prompted Morgan State to call its first timeout of the set.
• The teams continued to battle after the timeout with the Bears holding on to a narrow lead, but a Kerra Trimble ace tied the score at 20.
• The teams went back and forth, tying the score four times until a Cajic kill and a block by Ylenia De Mango and Irbe Lazda gave the Tigers a 26-24 second set victory.
• Towson gained a 7-4 lead to start the third set, but Morgan State tied the score at nine after a 5-2 run highlighted by an Alyssa Sampson ace.
• The Bears gained a 12-11 lead, but the Tigers responded with an 8-1 run that was capped off by three straight kills from Lazda to have a 19-13 edge.
• Morgan State called a timeout after Towson's run, which sparked a 6-1 run for the Bears that tied the score at 20.
• The teams continued to go back and forth, but the Bears reached set point after a Hiciano kill and an attack error by the Tigers.
• Towson countered with three consecutive points that included kills from Wasiakowska and Lazda to reach match point.
• The teams went back and forth reaching set point two more times before Lazda's block sealed the match on the third try to win the final set 29-27.

 
Inside the Numbers vs Morgan State:

• Sydney Stewart had a career-high four service aces and added a team-best 13 digs.
• Towson held Morgan State to -.121 hitting percentage in the first set.
• Sara Jordan finished with 26 assists, while five Tigers tallied an assist.
• Irbe Lazda has recorded double-digit kills in three consecutive matches.

 
Up Next:

• The Tigers will host the next four matches at SECU Arena starting off with a 7 p.m. match against FDU tomorrow on NBC Sports Washington tomorrow.