PULASKI, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee Southern volleyball team sent LeMoyne-Owen home with a three-set loss (25-14, 25-19, 25-18) on Friday.

UT Southern (6-4) took the first set by jumping out to a big lead taking advantages of some Magician errors. LeMoyne-Owen (0-2) fought back in the second match but the Firehawks would hold a late six-point lead. In the third set, the Magicians jump out to a 5-1 lead and magically make it dissipate as the Firehawks would reel off seven straight points to take a lead they would never relinquish.

Morgan Avrit led with 14 kills and 11 digs. Sophia Ortega added 10 kills. Laura Howell contributed five kills and 35 assists. Hailey Walker recorded 12 digs in the win for the Firehawks.

CHASING 2,000

UT Southern setter Laura Howell currently has 1,975 career assists. She will look to crack the 2,000 threshold in tomorrow's match at Blue Mountain Christian.

NEXT UP

UT Southern will open up Southern States Athletic Conference play traveling to Blue Mountain, Mississippi, to battle the Toppers at 1 p.m.

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