TOWSON, Md. – The Towson University volleyball team hosted Lafayette and Penn on Saturday to conclude the Towson-Coppin State Invitational.
 
In the morning match vs. the Leopards, the Tigers surrendered the first set in extra points before closing out the match with three-straight set wins.
 
In the evening match vs. Penn, strong hitting advantages in the first two sets put TU up two sets to none. The Quakers won the third set before the Tigers won secured the match with a 27-25 win in set four to take the match.
 
Records:

• Towson – 9-2
• Lafayette – 2-8
• Penn – 3-3

 
Key Stats vs. Lafayette

• Towson held a .238 to .126 hitting percentage advantage in the match.
• The Tigers finished with 17 more kills and 19 more assists.
• The Black & Gold finished with 14 more assists than the Leopards.

 
How it Happened vs. Lafayette

• After Lafayette opened the match with three-straight points, Towson responded with four of their own to take a one-point lead.
• Down 7-5, the Leopards scored four-straight points to retake the lead at 9-7.
• In a 12-11 hole, Lafayette scored five of the next six points to retake the lead once more at 16-13.
• The teams traded three-point runs later in the frame, pushing the score to 20-17 in favor of the Leopards.
• Down 24-21, the Tigers ripped off four-straight points with kills by Ava Drye and Erin Brothers, giving the Tigers a 25-24 lead. Sarah Callender had a service ace in the run as well.
• The Leopards went on a 3-0 run to close the set, winning 27-25.
• Lafayette opened the second set with a 5-2 lead.
• Down 10-8, the Tigers scored four-straight points with kills by Brothers and Ella Sanders in the run. Malinah Purcell-Telefoni added a service ace.
• Tied at 15, the Tigers scored five of the next six points to push the lead to 20-16.
• Destini Pickett cemented the set with a kill to win, 25-20.
• Down 3-2, the Black & Gold scored four-straight points to take a 6-3 lead.
• In a 12-7 hole, the Leopards scored four-straight points to cut their deficit to one.
• The Tigers scored five of the next six points to go up 17-12.
• Two three-point Lafayette runs allowed the Leopards to tie the score at 22.
• Down 26-25, the Leopards scored two-straight points to get to a set point.
• The Tigers answered with a three-point run of their own to take the third set, 29-27.
• Lafayette opened the fourth set with a 4-2 lead before the Tigers scored four unanswered points to take a 6-4 lead.
• The Leopards tied the set at six before the Tigers scored another four-straight to take a 10-6 lead.
• The Tigers used two three-point runs to push their lead to 20-13.
• The teams then traded four-point runs, making it a 24-17 score.
• The Leopards scored three-straight before Brothers secured the set at 25-20 with a kill.

 
Inside the Numbers vs. Lafayette

• Callender finished with a match-high 19 kills.
• Ella Sanders recorded her fourth-straight double-double and seventh of the season, finishing with 17 kills and 26 digs.
• Brothers finished with 15 kills and five block assists.

 
Key Stats vs. Penn

• Towson held a .312 to .247 hitting percentage advantage in the match.
• The Tigers were limited to one hitting error on 32 attempts in the opening set, setting up for a .531 attack percentage.
• Two Tigers, Brothers (18) and Sanders (17), finished with more than 11 kills compared to none for the Quakers.

 
How it Happened vs. Penn

• The set opened 5-4 in favor of Towson before the Tigers scored five unanswered points to push their early lead to 10-4.
• Much of the middle part of the set was back-and-forth, making the score 18-12.
• The Quakers responded with a four-point run to cut the deficit to two.
• Up 23-21, back-to-back kills from Sanders and Callender cemented the first set in favor of TU.
• The second set opened in a tie at four all before four unanswered Towson points gave the Tigers an 8-4 lead.
• The teams traded three-point runs moments later to make it a 11-9 lead for the Tigers.
• Up two, the Tigers score five of the next six points to extend their lead to 17-11.
• Three consecutive Penn points pulled the Quakers within three.
• Towson scored six of the final seven points to close the set, 25-17.
• Early in the third set, two four-point and one five-point runs gave Penn a 15-4 lead.
• Down 17-7, Towson scored six of the next seven points to pull within five.
• At the end of the set, the Tigers scored three unanswered points to pull within four at 22-18.
• The Quakers closed the set on a 3-0 run to win, 25-18.
• The teams traded short runs to begin the fourth set, giving Towson a 13-11 edge.
• The Tigers scored five of the next seven points to extend the lead to 18-13.
• Towson got its first match point at 24-22 before the Quakers ripped off three unanswered points to take a 25-24 lead.
• The Tigers answered with three-straight of their own, closing the final set by a score of 27-25. Towson won the match three sets to one.

 
Inside the Numbers vs. Penn

• Destini Pickett recorded her first double-double of her collegiate career, finishing with 11 kills and 13 digs.
• Sanders hit at a .441 hitting percentage, finishing with 17 kills and two errors on 34 attempts.

 
 
Up Next
The Tigers open Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) play next weekend as the defending-champion Charleston Cougars come to town for matches on Friday and Saturday. Both matches are slated for noon starts.