FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Talladega College women's volleyball team opened up the season at the ONSET Invitational this afternoon. The Tornadoes (0-2) fell to both Bethel University (Ind.) and Taylor University to start the season.

Talladega is back in action tomorrow when it faces Indiana University East and Aquinas College (Mich.) for day two of the ONSET Invitational. The first match is set for 9 a.m.

Match 1: Talladega 0, Bethel 3 (19-25, 22-25, 22-25)
Bethel (3-2) jumped out to an early 6-1 lead in the opening set, but the Tornadoes were able to close the gap using a 4-0 run to trail by a point. Both teams found themselves tied at nine before Talladega took a 14-9 lead. Bethel responded as it used a 12-3 run to go back in front 21-17 and that allowed Pilots to take the set, 25-19.

Talladega jumped out to a 10-3 lead in set two, but the Pilots chipped away at the Tornadoes lead to trail, 13-10. The Tornadoes held the lead for most of the set but both teams then found themselves tied at 19 and Bethel used a 6-3 run to close things out and go up 2-0 in the match.

In set three, both teams went back and forth for most of the set, but Talladega was able to take an 11-9 lead. Then they were able to push the lead to 14-9 before the Pilots cut the lead to three, but the Tornadoes used a 3-2 run to push the lead to, 17-13. Bethel put together a 6-0 run to take a 19-17 lead and was able to go on to a 25-22 win in the set to end the match.

Josephine Gates paced all Tornadoes with nine kills while teammate Briyith Echeverri finished with a team-high four aces.

Dyani Steward finished with 11 digs and six kills while Giovana Costerelli tallied 18 assists. Both tallied an ace each.

Match 2: Talladega 0, Taylor 3 (18-25, 10-25, 12-25)
The Trojans jumped out to a 5-2 lead in the first set, the Tornadoes chipped away to pull within one to trail, 6-5. Both teams later ended up tied at nine but Talladega was able to take a 16-14 lead. Taylor was able to tie the set at 16 before putting together a 9-2 run to take the set, 25-18.

Taylor (3-3) jumped out to a 10-4 lead in set two and was able to push the lead to 23-9 before going on to win 25-10.

Talladega looking to avoid a sweep in set three, but the Trojans had other plans as they took a 7-3 lead. The Tornadoes were able to use a 3-1 run to cut the lead to 8-6, but Taylor pushed its lead to 12-7 and never looked back from there to go on to win 25-12 and take the match, 3-0.

Re'na Ashley tallied eight kills for the Tornadoes while hitting .429. Teammates Giovana Costarelli paced the team in assists with eight while Stella Lukaszuk registered 11 digs.