WVB Tourney: Arkansas-Pine Bluff Eliminated Texas Southern, 3-2
SWAC.org
BATON ROUGE, La. – In an exciting five-set match, the Tigers of Texas Southern fell to the Golden Lions of Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 3-2 Saturday night in Cliford Seymour Gymnasium. The match scores include: 25-18, 25-21, 25-13, 25-17, 15-12.
Whitney Harris and Robyn Shannon shared a match-high 15 kills, while Jordan Foyer set for 37 assists. Ashle Markey earned a high of 28 digs.
On an up-tempo, UAPB scored the first point of the match, collecting a 2-0 lead. Texas Southern answered, tying the set at three. The Golden Lions pull forward registering a lead of 16-10, but not without a fight from the Tigers. Arkansas-Pine Bluff continued moving forward, gaining a seven-point gap before a Texas Southern timeout. The Lions finished the set with a 25-18 win.
Texas Southern started the second with the lead, but soon the set became a back and forth battle. Producing many great runs and keeping an active lead in the set, the Tigers took the set win, 25-21. With wins being tied 1-1, an additional set will be played in order for a team to have a three-set finish.
Like the set before, the Tigers and the Lions exchanged scoring privileges, until UAPB pulled ahead. A kill from Kali Fluke helped put the ball back on TSU’s side, but did not keep it there for long. A three-point run, five-point lead, from the Lions forced a Tigers timeout. Four scores under server Foyer increased UAPB’s place on the board, but a kill from the Tigers caused distraction. After re-adjusting, the Lions closed the set on an attack error.
With hopes of only one more set, Arkansas-Pine Bluff set the tone with the first point. The Tigers of Texas Southern were not going to allow it easily as they marched forward to snag the lead, 16-13, pushing a Lions timeout. Under the leadership of Fluke, the Tigers gained a six point lead, feeling a fifth set in their grasp. Their hard work paid off as the Tigers finished the set, 25-17.
The final set opened with arms blazing as UAPB secured a 5-1 lead. Battling back on a four-point run, the Tigers tied the set at five, then again at six. For the next eight scores the set continued to be tied until a couple of Texas Southern errors. The Golden Lions finished the match, 15-12, eliminating TSU from the championship.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff will play the winner of match 10, tomorrow at 10 a.m.
Check the tournament central for more information on all the action.