JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Talladega College volleyball team faced some prime competition on the first day of the Edward Waters University HBCU Invitational Tournament and split a pair of matches today at the Adams-Jenkins Complex.
Talladega defeated Fort Valley State in straight sets to start the day and fell in five sets to Benedict College. Both schools compete in NCAA Division II in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
In the morning match, The Tornadoes claimed a 3-0 (25-23, 25-22, 25-18) straight-set victory over FVSU.
Tianah Sanders led the attack with eight kills and was equally effective at the net with five solo blocks and two block assists.
Nedu Evans and
Mahalynn Sawyer both added six kills.
Raven Clater kept the offense moving with 19 assists and
Maloree Calzadillas passed 15 assists.
Kenya Glenn and Clater both registered five digs while
Josephine Gates added four solo blocks and a block assist.
Talladega battled hard in the second match of the day, but Benedict found a way to hold off the Tornadoes to take a thrilling victory, 3-2 (25-23, 27-29, 19-25, 25-23, 15-11).
Evans and Sawyer both posted 12 kills each to lead the Tornadoes. Clater passed 24 assists and Gates added 16 assists.
Glenn led the back row with 14 digs. Gates handled the net defensively with four solo blocks and two block assists; Sanders added three block assists and a solo block and
Mia Sterling added two block assists and a solo block.
Talladega, now 4-2 on the season, has one more match at the EWU HBCU Invitational scheduled and it is against Tuskegee University. Match time is set for 8 a.m. CST.
