TOWSON, Md. – The Towson University volleyball team hosted Iona and Princeton on Friday to open the Towson-Coppin State Invitational.
 
In the morning match vs. the Gaels, the Tigers dropped the second and third sets in tight fashion after taking the opening set, 25-15. They went on to win the final two sets by scores of 25-17 and 15-11.
 
In the evening match vs. Princeton, Towson took the opening set before surrendering the second. The TU Tigers went on to win the final two sets by scores of 25-21 and 25-23, respectively.
 
Records:

• Towson – 7-2
• Iona – 4-4
• Princeton – 2-2

 
Key Stats vs. Iona

• Towson held a .197 to .130 hitting advantage in the match.
• In a pivotal fourth set, the Tigers held the Gaels to a .031 hitting percentage. They hit at a .294 rate in set four.
• The Black & Gold finished the match with 12 more kills than Iona.

 
How it Happened vs. Iona

• After Towson started the opening set with a 4-2 lead, Iona scored four straight points to flip the score to a two-point advantage in their favor.
• In an 8-8 tie, the Tigers ripped off five-straight points with Sydney Stewart's service ace starting the run and Taylor Pagan's kill ending the run.
• With a five-point lead, the Tigers went on a 5-1 run to push the lead to 21-13 late in the set.
• Towson scored four of the final five points to win set one, 25-15.
• The teams traded three-point runs to open set two to get to the sets first tie.
• Another trade of three-point runs a few points later tied the score at 10-10.
• Down 14-12, Towson scored three-straight points to take a one-point edge.
• The Gaels responded with a 4-0 run to retake the lead at 18-15.
• The Black & Gold knotted the score once more at 18-18 with another three-point run.
• Knotted at 19, the Gaels picked up the final three-point run of the set to get ahead, which proved pivotal as Iona went on to win the set, 25-22.
• Once again, the third set opened with a 3-3 tie.
• Iona scored four of the next five points to take a 7-4 lead.
• Towson retook the lead at 8-7 with a four-point run.
• Two four-point Towson runs later in the set extended TU's lead to 18-13.
• The Tigers surrendered a kill to the Gaels at set point to knot the set at 24.
• Iona tied the score at 28 as the teams traded points. The Gaels came up with the final two points in succession to win set three, 30-28.
• For the third-straight set, the score opened in a 3-3 tie.
• The Tigers overpowered the Gaels with two runs each of three and four points to win set four, 25-17, sending the match to the fifth and final set.
• Down 7-4 in the final set, Towson scored six unanswered points to take a 10-7 lead.
• After surrendering the next point, the Tigers closed the set on a 5-3 run to win the match three sets to two.

 
Inside the Numbers vs. Iona

• Pagan finished with a match-high 22 kills in the match while hitting at a .396 clip. She recorded her fourth double-double in eight matches this season, adding 16 digs in the win.
• Sarah Callender recorded her second double-double this season, totaling 12 kills and 20 digs.
• Erin Brothers finished with 9 kills and no errors on 22 total attacks. She had a .396 hitting percentage in the match.

 
Key Stats vs. Princeton

• Towson held a slight .225 to .216 hitting percentage advantage in the match.
• TU finished with 63 kills to Princeton's 56.

 
How it Happened vs. Princeton

• Back-and-forth to start the match, TU opened with an 11-9 lead.
• Princeton responded with a 5-0 run to take a 14-11 lead.
• Down 15-12, Towson clawed back with a four-point run to retake the lead.
• In a 21-20 hole, TU scored five of the final eight points to win the opening set, 25-23.
• In the second set, runs of three and five points for Princeton put them up 14-8.
• They carried that momentum through the end of the set, winning by a score of 25-19.
• After Princeton scored the first point of set four, TU scored the next four to take an early lead.
• Knotted at 12 all, Towson scored four-straight points to take a 16-12 lead.
• The set remained competitive until a Princeton service error handed Towson a 24-21 lead.
• A Princeton attack error closed the set, giving Towson the 25-21 win.
• TU opened the fourth set with a 5-1 lead.
• PU scored four the next five to cut their deficit to one.
• In the middle of the set, two three-point Towson runs pushed their lead to 20-13.
• Princeton ripped off five-straight points, and nine of the next ten, to take a 22-21 lead in the set.
• Kills from Destini Pickett, Sarah Callender and Malinah Purcell-Telefoni righted the ship for Towson to retake a 24-22 lead.
• After giving up the next point to Princeton, Callender cemented the win, 25-23, with a roaring kill. The Tigers won the match three sets to one.

 
Inside the Numbers vs. Princeton

• Callender finished with a match-high 21 kills. Its her most in a match at Towson and four off her career-high of 25 from William & Mary. She recorded her second double-double of the day, finishing with 15 digs.
• Ella Sanders recorded her third-straight double-double and fifth of the season, finishing with 10 kills and 23 digs.
• Sydney Stewart led all players with 25 digs in the match.

 
Up Next
Towson will wrap up hosting duties for the Towson-Coppin State Invitational tomorrow, with matches vs. Lafayette and Penn set for 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., respectively.