TOWSON, Md. – The Towson University volleyball team played two matches to open the Tiger Invitational on Friday. In the first match against Loyola, the Tigers won in four sets. In the evening match vs. the Coppin State Eagles, the Black & Gold won in straight sets to improve to 8-1 overall in non-conference play.
 
In the first match vs. Loyola, Victoria Barrett led all players with 18 kills in the match. Kaitlyn Moran added a match-high five service aces. Zyare Abdul-Rahim led the field with seven blocks.
 
In match two against Coppin State, Barrett finished one dig short of a double-double (13 kills, 9 digs). Nakai added 12 kills at a .500 hitting percentage while Ylenia De Mango amassed a match-high eight blocks.
 
Records:

• Towson – 8-1, 0-0 CAA
• Loyola – 1-6, 0-0 Patriot
• Coppin State – 4-6, 0-0 MEAC

 
Key Stats vs. Loyola

• Towson held a .224—.122 hitting advantage over the Greyhounds.
• The Tigers held a 13-4 ace and a 13-5 block edge in the match.

 
How it Happened vs. Loyola

• After a 4-3 Towson edge through the first seven points, the Tigers won nine of the next ten to make the score 13-4.
• The Greyhounds scored the next three points to pull within six.
• Loyola posted an 8-2 run later in the set to pull within two at 18-16.
• A three-point Towson run pushed the lead to five.
• The Tigers won three of the last four points to take the first set 25-19.
• Both teams exchanged two point runs to open the second set to go to 4-4.
• At 5-5, Towson went on a 10-1 run with kills by Victoria Barret, Ava Nakai and Mac Whyte to push it to a 15-6 edge.
• After the Greyhounds won three of the next four, the Tigers went on another four-point run to make it 20-9.
• Loyola followed with a five-point run to pull within six.
• Towson won three of the next four points for a 24-15 first set point.
• After a four-point Greyhound run, Barrett's kill cemented the 25-19 set win.
• Loyola started the third set on a 5-2 run, capped by a Sekunda kill.
• After back-to-back Towson points, the Greyhounds went on a 7-3 run to make it 12-7.
• A 5-1 Loyola run later in the frame pushed their lead to 19-12.
• The teams exchanged short rallies before Loyola won the set 25-19.
• Through the beginning of the fourth set, the teams went back-and-forth for a 9-9 score.
• The Black & Gold followed that with a 7-1 run to give them a 16-10 lead.
• The Tigers closed the set on a 9-1 run with kills from Barrett and Zyare Abdul-Rahim, plus two service aces from Kaitly Moran to win the set 25-12. Towson won the match three sets to one.

 
Inside the Numbers vs. Loyola

• Kaitlyn Moran recorded a match-high five service aces, a new collegiate career high.
• Barrett recorded her fourth match of season with 16-plus kills (18).
• Abdul-Rahim led the team with seven blocks, a new season-high.

 
Key Stats vs. Coppin State

• Towson outhit the Eagles .327-.148.
• The Tigers held Coppin State to a -0.074 hitting percentage in the first set.
• The Black & Gold averaged 16 kills per set in the match.

 
How it Happened vs. Coppin State

• Coppin State opened the first set with an 8-6 lead.
• Following that, the Tigers won 17 of the next 19 points to take a decisive 23-10 lead in the set.
• After back-to-back points from the Eagles, two attacking errors gave Towson the 25-12 set one victory.
• The Tigers picked up in the second set where they left off in the first, winning six of the first seven points.
• Coppin State followed with a 4-2 run to make it an 8-5 Tiger edge.
• A three-point Towson run with back-to-back kills from Ava Nakai pushed the lead to six.
• The Eagles responded by winning four of the next five points to make it 12-9.
• Towson won three of the next four points with kills from Nakai and Ylenia De Mango to make it 15-10.
• After short rallies, the Black & Gold won four of five to take a 22-15 lead in the set.
• After a 3-1 Coppin run, kills by Barrett and Whyte gave Towson the 25-18 win in the set.
• Coppin State opened the third set with an 8-5 lead.
• After a few quick side-outs, Towson won three of four to make it a 12-11 Eagle advantage.
• Coppin State won three of the next four points to make it 15-12.
• A three-point Tiger run tied the game at 15 apiece.
• Towson closed the set on a 6-1 run for the 25-22 set win for the three-set sweep.

 
Inside the Numbers vs. Coppin State

• Nakai hit .500 with 12 kills.
• Victoria Barrett finished one dig short of recording her second double-double of the season.
• De Mango totaled eight blocks to match her season high.

 
Up Next
Towson closes the Tiger Invitational tomorrow vs. Seton Hall at 4 p.m. at TU Arena. The first 250 fans to the match will receive a TU-Maryland flag courtesy of Towson Athletics.