Trojans Split to Close Weekend

Saturday, September 8

Kennesaw, Ga.

1:30 p.m.

Troy University

Tennessee State

Photo by: Tyler Myers

9/8/2012 4:40:00 PM | Volleyball

By: Matt Mays

Box Score vs Tennessee State
Box Score vs Kennesaw State

KENNESAW, Ga. – The Troy volleyball team split a pair of matches on Saturday at the KSU Owls Invitational, defeating Tennessee State, 3-0 (25-17, 25-22, 25-15), before falling to Kennesaw State, 3-1 (16-25, 25-21, 25-20, 25-23).

The Trojans (6-5) finished the tournament with a 3-1 record while Kennesaw State posted a 4-0 record to capture their home tournament.

Troy returns to the floor next weekend when they travel to Alabama State for the ASU Invitational where they will take on Alabama State, Jackson State and Maryland-Eastern Shore.

For more information on Troy Athletics, be sure to visit TroyTrojans.com. Fans can also find Troy on Twitter at @TroyAthletics or on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/TroyAthletics.

TROY 3, TENNESSEE STATE 0

The Trojans hit an impressive .327 as a team with just nine errors, led by Blair Winston's 14 kills and just two errors for a .444 individual attack percentage. Devin Von Pingel posted 12 kills with just one error for a .550 hitting percentage.

Alexandra Alexander recorded 32 assists while Courtney Cohen led the way with 14 digs while Mailande Parker was also in double figures with 12 digs.

Tennessee State (4-7) was led by Naomi Wells with nine kills while Erika Moss posted 23 assists.

Troy used a five-point run to break open a tight game early and jump ahead 9-4 in the first set. The Trojans maintained the five-point cushion as they hit .483 with 16 kills and two errors in opening frame.

The Trojans held the Tigers to a .051 attack percentage in the second set as they took a commanding two-set lead with a 25-22 lead.

Troy hit .424 in the final set and cruised to a 25-15 win to clinch the match.

KENNESAW STATE 3, TROY 1

Troy took a lopsided first set, but Kennesaw State captured the next three, all by narrow margins, as the Owls took a 3-1 victory to capture the tournament title in their own KSU Owls Invitational.

Troy was led again by Winston as she posted 15 kills. Von Pingel recorded 13 kills with just three errors for a .500 attack percentage as she was named to the all-tournament team.

Alexander posted 38 assists and 14 digs for her third double-double of the weekend. Cohen led the way defensively with 21 digs.

Kennesaw State (8-3) was led by Keyaira Stevenson and Turea Jones with 14 kills each.
Troy hit .333 as a team in the first set and allowed just four points after the set was tied at 12-12 on their way to a 25-16 win. However, a .303 attack percentage in the second set wasn't enough as KSU hit .375 and took a tight set 25-21.

As Troy led 11-8 in the third set, an eight-point run by the Owls gave KSU a 16-11 lead as they capped off a 25-20 win in the third set.

The fourth set was the closest of the night as the two sides were tied 10 times, including as late as 22-22, but Troy could only manage one point late in the set as Kennesaw State took the set 25-23 to clinch the match.