Nashville --- Despite having three players post double
digits in kills, the Tennessee State University volleyball team dropped a
hard-fought match to Eastern Kentucky Friday night in Kean Hall.
The set scores were 18-25, 25-20, 26-24, 23-35 and 13-15.
Tennessee State fell to 5-12 (3-6 OVC) while Eastern
Kentucky moved to 7-11 (6-3 OVC).
Santia Sanders led TSU with 18 kills while recording 10 digs
and five service aces. Vicmari Prospero and Shaquita Williams each tallied 13
kills as Kamille King led the Tigers with 20 digs.
Terakka Walker and Erika Moss registered 18 digs while
Calasia Williams added 10.
Lauryn Snyder had 19 kills and 13 digs for a double-double
while Amanda Fago added 13 kills for EKU. Abby O'Conner led the defensive
charge for the Colonels with 27 digs while Jill Henneman (13), Kelsey Rose (10)
and Robyn Hench (10) also posted double-digit digs.
The Tigers got off to a rocky start in the first set,
falling behind 10-3 before burning a timeout. TSU posted the next two points,
out of the break but EKU answered with another run to increase its advantage to
14-7. Despite a small TSU rally towards the end, EKU continued to build on its
lead and won the first set, 25-18.
TSU jumped out to a 4-1 lead in the second set but EKU
battled back to knot the score, 8-8. TSU briefly regained the lead behind a
kill from Vicmari Prospero but the teams played to another, 13-13, stalemate. Both
teams traded points over the next few rallies. With the score tied, 18-18, a
kill from Kamille King sparked a 7-2 run that pushed TSU to the 25-20 win.
In the third set, The Tigers led early, 7-3, but the
Colonels used six unanswered points to capture the lead, 9-7. TSU rallied back
to tie the score, 20-20, following a timely block by Prospero and a service ace
from Santia Sanders but EKU managed to move ahead 24-21. With EKU holding set
point, a determined Tiger squad fired off five straight points to stave off the
Colonels and steal the extra points win.
After going back-and-forth in the fourth set, the Colonels
were able to create a little distance when they took an 18-15 lead. TSU rallied
to within one, 24-23, but EKU scored the next point to capture the win and
force a fifth set.
In the fifth set, TSU seemed to lose steam falling behind EKU
12-6 in the deciding frame. The Tigers continued to fight and clawed to within
one but it wasn't enough as the Colonels held on for the win.
Overall TSU held the advantage in kills, 66-54, and hit .207
compared to EKU's .179. The Tigers also had more team blocks, 9-6, and digs,
82-81, than the Colonels.
TSU returns to action tomorrow with a match-up against
Morehead State. Match time is slated for 2 p.m. in Kean Hall.
