Dover, Del. (Sep. 17, 2013) --- The Delaware State volleyball team was a game away from victory but ran out of gas in the last two sets of a 3-2 loss to Towson in the Hornets' 2013 home opener this evening.

The Tigers won the deciding game five 15-8 to improve to 5-8 this season. DSU fell to 1-5.

After dropping the first set 25-13, the Hornets took the next two games, 25-22 and 25-17, to take a 2-1 lead in the match.

Towson staved off defeat with a 25-14 win in game four to force the deciding set.

Delaware State's Jasmine Jackson (so.; So. Riding, Va.) led all players with 20 kills, while Jessica Croucher (sr.; Brisbane, Aus.) had 16 kills and a team-high eight digs for the Hornets. Jackson has led the team in kills in each of the last four matches.

Natalia Mendieta (so.; Aurora, Ill.) was tops on the Hornets with 23 assists, while Taylor Marshall (fr.; Lancaster, OH) had a career-high 20 helpers in the contest.

Saitaua Iosia recorded a “double-double” for Towson, collecting a team-high 18 kills and topping all players with 10 digs. Victoria Williams added 12 kills, while Casey Giovanazzi had a team-high 23 assists for the Tigers.

In Delaware State's game two win, the Hornets trailed 16-9 before storming back.

Jackson capped off an 11-4 DSU run with a kill to tie the match at 20-20. The Hornets scored the next three points on two Towson errors and an ace by Mendieta to open up a 23-20 lead. Croucher closed out the set with a kill to give the Hornets the win.

In game three, the score was 10-10 before the Hornets pulled away. DSU scored six of the next eight points, and opened up a 16-12 lead on a kill by Jackson.

Edarkis Branch (jr.; Los Angeles, Cal.) capped off a 5-0 DSU run with a winner to give the Hornets a 22-15 game three lead. The eight-point margin of victory tied Delaware State's biggest lead in game three.

In game four, Towson scored five of the first six points and never looked back en route to the 11-point win.

Iosia had four kills on four attempts to lead the Tigers to victory in game five.

Towson had a .419 hitting percentage in the contest (59 kills/15 errors/105 attacks), while Delaware State posted a .257 mark (50/22/109).

The Tigers also held a 31-24 advantage in digs.

The Hornets return to action at the Temple Invitational in Philadelphia this weekend. DSU will open the tournament against host Temple on Friday at 7:00 p.m.