Bowling Green, Ky. --- The Tiger volleyball fell to host Western Kentucky and then Memphis on day one of the WKU Tournament on Friday.

Vicmari Prospero led the offensive charge for the Tigers turning in 14 kills against Memphis and a team best eight kills against Western Kentucky. Terakka Walker notched 10 digs against Memphis.

Against Western Kentucky, sets one and two were played very closely but Tennessee State struggled to finish down the stretch.

In the first set, TSU captured a 10-5 lead on a kill by Yamari Padilla-Collazo and the Tigers maintained the advantage through the next several points. The Lady Toppers later came from behind to tie the set 16-16, and posted the next two points to capture an 18-16 lead. Western Kentucky never trailed again. With the contest knotted 22-22, WKU scored three straight to seal the win.

TSU fell behind 9-2 early in the second set but continued to fight. The Tigers clawed to within one (10-9) behind the serve of Shawna Ruiz and stayed close the rest of the set. A kill by Shaquita Williams made the score 21-20 but WKU outscored TSU 3-1 down the stretch to escape with the win.

With the score tied 3-3 in the third set, the Lady Toppers used an 11-1 run to open up a 14-4 lead. TSU never recovered. The Tigers only posted seven kills and committed seven errors in the 25-13 loss.  

For the match, TSU hit .071 against WKU and tallied 28 kills to the Lady Toppers 36 (.244).

The Tigers had little time to rest as they had to face the Tigers of Memphis shortly after their match with the Lady Toppers. TSU improved its hitting percentage against Memphis with a .136 to go along with 38 kills but it wasn't enough. Memphis won the match with set scores of 25-19, 25-18 and 25-18. Vicmari Prospero had a match-high 14 kills and hit an impressive .407.

TSU falls to 1-8 on the season.

TSU will face Northern Illinois tomorrow morning at 11 a.m.