TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The HBCU Athletic Conference opener started strong for the Stillman College volleyball team, but the visiting Talladega College Tornadoes rallied from a two-set deficit to defeat the Tigers 3-2 (19-25, 16-25, 25-22, 25-17, 15-13) Friday night in Birthright Alumni Hall.
Makasia Crawford led the Tigers with 11 kills while hitting .450.
Ava Cameron added 11 kills and 15 points, while
Keslyn Myers-Pittman recorded nine kills and 13 points.
Kelis Conley finished with 17 assists and 11 digs, and
Zoey Sales led Stillman with 16 digs.
Stillman (2-6, 0-1 HBCUAC) controlled the opening two sets, using a 7-0 run in the first to build a 16-5 advantage before closing out a 25-19 win. The Tigers then erased an early second-set deficit and used a strong serving stretch from Myers-Pittman to take control, winning 25-16 and moving within one set of the victory.
Talladega answered in the third set, overcoming a 13-11 deficit with an 8-0 run to take control. Stillman rallied late, cutting the margin to 24-22, but Talladega closed the set 25-22. The Tornadoes carried that momentum into the fourth, building an 11-5 lead and forcing a deciding fifth set despite a late Stillman rally.
In the fifth, Talladega jumped ahead 4-0, but Stillman refused to fold. Consecutive aces by
Shelby Morris helped the Tigers pull within 12-9, and Cameron's kill made it 14-13. The Tornadoes answered with the final point, escaping with a 15-13 victory.
Stillman College returns to action Monday on the road in Livingston, Alabama, to face the University of West Alabama Tigers at 6 p.m. in Pruitt Hall.
