TUSKEGEE, Ala. __ The Golden Tiger volleyball team secured a hard-fought 3-1 victory over LaGrange in a non-conference matchup on Tuesday night at the Chappie James Center.
The Golden Tigers showcased their resilience and teamwork throughout the match, taking control set by set. The win pushed their overall record to 9-13.
In the first set, Tuskegee came out strong, winning 25-18 behind standout performances from
Lauren Canady and
Mikea Allen.
Canady contributed significantly on offense with timely kills, while Allen was pivotal in setting up plays and earning service points. The Golden Tigers capitalized on LaGrange's errors and maintained consistent pressure to take the early lead.
The Panthers responded in the second set, tightening up their defense and pushing Tuskegee. However, the Golden Tigers rallied late, using their effective blocking and strong serving game to win 25-20. Key contributions in the set came from
Taylor Coleman, who delivered several clutch kills, and
Ziniah Hardy, who played well defensively.
The third set was tightly contested, with both teams exchanging points back and forth. LaGrange managed to edge Tuskegee 26-24 in a dramatic finish, forcing the Golden Tigers to regroup heading into the fourth set. Tuskegee's defensive play struggled slightly in the third, allowing the Panthers to take advantage of open gaps.
Tuskegee bounced back with authority in the fourth set, securing a dominant 25-20 victory to close out the match. Canady and
Ma'Kayla Jones were instrumental in this final set, combining for ten of the 15 kills, while both setters continued to dictate the pace with her assists, helping the team to finish strong.
Canady finished with a team-high 14 kills along with eight digs, while Coleman added 13 kills, follwed bu Jones with 11 kills and five total blocks. Allen contributed 28 assists, followed by
Amara Dotson with 13, guiding the Golden Tigers' attack.
Defensively, Hardy led the team with 21 digs, ensuring Tuskegee kept LaGrange's offense in check. Tuskegee's blocking unit, led by
Sian Sprinkle and Jones, was also effective throughout the match, with the team accumulating 11 total blocks.
This win marks an important non-conference victory for Tuskegee as they continue their season, displaying both their offensive firepower and defensive grit to secure the 3-1 win.
Up Next
Tuskegee will face rival Miles in their next match, on Saturday, November 2, heading to Fairfield for the first meeting of the head-to-head series. First serve inside of the Knox-Windham Gym is set for 9 a.m.
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Stay connected with Tuskegee Volleyball on Twitter and Instagram (@Skegeevball). For complete coverage of Tuskegee University athletics, follow on social media at @MyTUAthletics (Twitter/Instagram), @GoldenTigerSports on Facebook, and visit the official home of Tuskegee University athletics at
www.goldentigersports.com.
