GRAMBLING, La. | The Grambling State University volleyball team defeated rival Southern, 3-2, in its second five-set thriller of the week at the Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center on Monday evening.

The Lady Tigers (5-8 overall, 2-1 SWAC) took the first two sets, 26-24, 25-23, but dropped the next two 25-18, 26-24, before picking up the fifth set, 15-5.

HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Lady Tigers jumped ahead in the first set, leading the Lady Jaguars, 13-9
- The Lady Tigers opened the second set with a 5-1 lead over Southern  
- The teams battled back and forth tying the score 13 times before Grambling State was able to sneak away with a kill by Gillian Jones and another kill from Tamaira Johnson
- Southern found momentum as they weren't ready to give up taking the third set, 25-18
- The Lady Jaguars scored five straight points to seal the set with a kill from Ryleigh Taylor
- Grambling State started the fourth set with a 3-0 lead and later making a 7-0 run.
-The early leads weren't enough to top the Lady Jaguars as Kendall Dutton put one down to take the match to a fifth set
-Grambling State discovered its sense of vengeance for victory as they stormed past the Lady Jaguars, leading 6-1 in the final set.
-The Lady Tigers ended the match with a kill by Tess Reynolds and a service ace from Maurissa Harris

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- Grambling State finished with a total of 59 kills, 24 errors, 199 and total attempts 
- Gillian Jones paced the Lady Tigers' offense with 17 kills
- Kalee Cadwell registered 29 assists, followed by Sheila Borders who had 16 assists
-Tess Reynolds recorded 10 kills and Tamaira Johnson had nine 
-Jada Taylor finished the night with 45 digs
- Southern finished with a total of 43 assists, 44 kills, and eight aces
-Kendall Dutton led the way with 13 kills and four blocks for Southern, followed by Elise Doomes with 11 kills
- Kennedy Joubert registered 40 digs
- Kyla Carrier finished with 20 assists, while Ryleigh Taylor came up with 15 assits
- Brook Jefferson, Kennedy Joubert, and Ryleigh Taylor each finished with two service aces
-Xaria Taylor also had four blocks and Joilyn Azore had one

UP NEXT
Grambling State heads to Jackson, Miss. to compete in the SWAC round-up, hosted by Jackson State. Grambling State will take on Alabama A&M at 11 a.m. on Saturday and at 5 p.m. against Mississippi Valley State. The Lady Tigers will return to T.B. Ellis Gymnasium to take on host Jackson State at 1 p.m. on Sunday.

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