MONTGOMERY, Ala. - The SSAC Game of the Week lived up to the billing as the Lady Eagles snapped a six-game skid with a dramatic 3-1 win over Talladega Friday night in a raucous Tine Davis Gymnasium. 

Faulkner (10-13, 4-6 SSAC) led 22-18 in the swing third set, but Talladega (10-11, 4-6 SSAC) capitalized on three Lady Eagle errors and two kills to level the scoring in a 5-1 run. Derriana Chambers's service error at 23-all gave Faulkner set point, but the Tornadoes fought it off with one of Zyaire-Prettie Garrit's 11 kills. Hannah Bryan hit one of her eight kills to give Faulkner set point once again before a Talladega attack error put the home squad into the match lead. The lead was the first time since winning the fifth set against the Tornadoes six matches ago that the Lady Eagles were ahead in a match, paying dividends for the hard work put in over the tough stretch where several results had been marginally close. 

Riding the momentum and the energy in the building, Faulkner clinched the match in the fourth with four aces, including two from Alyssa Stagner and a match-sealing ace from Hannah Bryan for her second service point of the night. 

On a night where the intensity of the competition felt like a trophy was on the line, it was Alyssa and Alysa who took over. Stagner turned in a phenomenal performance leading the floor in aces (3), digs (22) and assists (42) in the four set match. She also had three blocks. Vinson dominated the net with a match-high 16 kills and paced the Faulkner block with five while completing her double-double with 11 digs. 

Alexis McInroy turned in 12 kills and four blocks. Bryan and Jordan Stewart each had 10 digs. Julia Rice had three blocks. 

Faulkner's defense turned in one of its best performances of the year holding the Tornadoes to a .041 attack percentage, the third best of the season on 148 attacks with a season's fourth-best nine blocks. The Lady Eagles hit .138 as a team as Josephine Gates blocked nine of the Talladega's 10 denials. 

Faulkner and Talladega are tied in the league standings, but by virtue of winning both head-to-head matchups, Faulkner is effectively in fifth. The Lady Eagles welcome league-leaders Blue Mountain Saturday at 2 p.m.. The Toppers sit at 23-5 overall and 9-1 in SSAC play and are riding a 12-match win streak after knocking off Mobile 3-2 Friday night on the road.