Southern University

HOUSTON — Southern had five players with five or more kills as the Lady Jaguars defeated Texas Southern 3-1 over Texas Southern on Sunday afternoon at the Health & Physical Education Arena, winning by scores of 25-17, 25-23, 15-25, 25-21.
 
The Lady Jaguars improved to 5-11 overall and 2-2 in SWAC play with the victory, while Texas Southern fell to 3-13 overall and 2-2 in conference action. Southern finished the afternoon with 45 kills, 42 assists, 69 digs and nine total blocks.
 
Sereniti Johnson led the Southern attack with 10 kills, while Braelynn Reese added eight kills and a .333 hitting percentage. Reagan Robinson also recorded seven kills, while Alyssa Williams contributed seven kills on a .286 hitting percentage. Paulina Agudelo Marin finished with five kills and four blocks.
 
Maleah Faust directed the offense with 22 assists, while Penina Vito added 14 assists. Najah Harris anchored the defensive effort with a team-high 23 digs, while Johnson recorded 13 digs and Reagan Robinson added 18 digs.
 
Southern established control early in the opening set, using a 10-3 run to turn a 5-8 deficit into a 15-8 advantage. The Lady Jaguars continued to maintain separation behind kills from Robinson, Reese and Agudelo Marin before closing out the set, 25-17. held Texas Southern to a -.041 hitting percentage.
 
The Lady Jaguars carried the momentum into the second set, building a 13-5 advantage after a service ace from Ayana Johnson. Texas Southern rallied late and eventually pulled within one at 21-20, but Southern answered with key plays from Norielle Battle and closed the set, 25-23, to take a 2-0 lead.
 
Texas Southern responded in the third set, taking control with a 10-6 run and extending its lead to 16-9. The Tigers continued to build their advantage before winning the set, 25-15, cutting Southern's lead to 2-1. The Lady Jaguars struggled offensively in the frame, finishing with a .028 hitting percentage.
 
Southern responded with its strongest offensive performance of the afternoon in the fourth set. After Texas Southern took an early 3-2 lead, the Lady Jaguars used a 6-1 run to move ahead 8-6 and later built a 17-10 advantage. Texas Southern battled back to within three at 18-15, but Southern answered with another key stretch to regain control. Robinson, Williams and Alayah Wilson provided important kills down the stretch before Williams delivered the final point to secure the 25-21 victory and the 3-1 match win.
 
Southern finished the fourth set with 15 kills while recording four total blocks. Williams paced the attack in the final frame with five kills, while Wilson added three kills and Agudelo Marin contributed two kills and a block.
 
The Lady Jaguars will return to action with SWAC play continuing next weekend.
 
UP NEXT
Southern returns home for three matches next week. The Lady Jaguars will take on Alcorn on Wednesday, October 7 at 6 p.m.

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