TOWSON, Md. – The Towson University volleyball team hosted UNCW in the first of two Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) matches on Saturday morning.
 
The first set was competitive as Towson (14-2, 5-0 CAA) and UNCW (3-11, 2-3 CAA) each had long runs. The Tigers ultimately prevailed in the opening set, 26-24. The second set was like the first as both teams had runs and held momentum in the frame. TU won set two by a score of 25-20. In the third set, the Tigers held a .296 to -.061 hitting edge to win 25-11.
 
Records:

• Towson – 14-2, 5-0 CAA
• UNCW – 3-11, 2-3 CAA

 
Key Stats

• Towson held a decisive .193 to .072 hitting advantage edge in the match.
• The Tigers finished with 12 more kills and 10 more assists than the Seahawks.
• The Black & Gold held UNCW to a -0.061 hitting percentage.

 
How it Happened

• The Tigers opened set one with a 6-3 lead before the Seahawks scored four of the next five points to tie up the score at seven apiece.
• Towson followed that with a five-point run, building a 12-7 lead.
• UNCW scored four of the next five points to follow that to pull within two at 13-11.
• Later in the set with a 22-19 lead, the Tigers surrendered five of the next six points to give UNCW a set point at 24-23.
• Towson ripped off three straight points to win the set 26-24.
• The Seahawks started the second set with a 3-0 lead before TU scored five of the next six points to take a 5-4 lead.
• The teams traded short runs to follow, taking the score to 11-11.
• The Tigers scored seven unanswered then to take a seven-point lead.
• The Seahawks won six of the next seven points to pull within two at 19-17.
• The Tigers, holding a two-point lead at 22-20, scored three consecutive points to win set two by a score of 25-20.
• Two early runs of three and five points got TU out to an 11-3 lead in the third set.
• Another four-point run later in the set took the Tigers' lead to 17-6.
• Towson, powered by two late three-point runs, took the final set by a score of 25-11.

 
Inside the Numbers

• Malinah Purcell-Telefoni paced the Tigers with six block assists in the match.
• Sydney Stewart led all players with 18 digs.
• Ella Sanders finished one dig shy of a double-double, amassing 13 kills and nine digs.

 
Up Next
The Tigers and Seahawks will conclude their series tomorrow at 1 p.m. at SECU Arena.