BEAUMONT, Texas – Cal State Fullerton women's volleyball concluded nonconference play with a four-set win over Texas Southern (25-13, 25-16, 25-14, 25-18) on Saturday at the Lamar Invitational. With this win, the Titans snapped a five-game losing streak and enter conference play with a 5-7 overall record. This also marked the program's most wins since the 2022 season (13-15). 

Kahea Carvalho opened the match with a service ace before Ketesia Hall evened the set at 2-2 with a kill. Texas Southern edged the Titans 3-2, but kills by Hall and Kaia Herweg, along with two service aces by Mia Feldhaus, contributed to a 6-0 run for an 8-3 Titan lead. Two more three-point runs extended Fullerton's advantage, while Feao Saluni gave the Titans a 20-10 lead with a service ace. Hannah Hass then secured a 25-13 set win with a kill and service ace.

Texas Southern worked to a 7-4 lead in the second set, capitalizing on three kills and a block assist. The Titans responded with kills by Hass (2), Elon Smith (2), and Hall to retake a 9-7 lead over the Tigers. Heavy hitting and net control by Texas Southern forced the Titans to fight from behind late in the second set. Herweg recorded two kills to trail the Tigers 17-15, but six kills and a block secured a 25-16 set win for Texas Southern, evening the match at 1-1. 

The Titans responded with a 5-0 lead in the third set, fueled by kills from Smith, Hall, and Herweg. Herweg remained instrumental late into the set, recording five more kills to give the Titans a 20-11 lead. The Titans earned a set point on a kill by Lira Pukl Verdel before Carvalho sealed a 25-14 win with a kill of her own. As a team, the Titans hit a season-best .654 in the third set, outpacing their first-set hitting of .611. 

Texas Southern took control for a short stint in the fourth set, but the Titans went on a 4-0 scoring run powered by Smith and Pukl Verdel for a 15-9 lead. Two errors by the Tigers pushed the Titans to a 20-15 lead before a 3-0 scoring run earned the Titans a 25-18 win and their fifth win of the season. 

The Titans are scheduled to open Big West play at UC San Diego on Friday, Sept. 26 at 6:00 p.m. They then visit the Walter Pyramid for a crosstown rivalry matchup against Long Beach State on Saturday, Sept. 27. 

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