Memphis, Tenn. --- The Tennessee State University volleyball
team fell to Memphis in three sets Friday night in Elma Roane Fieldhouse.
The set scores were 22-25, 19-25 and 19-25.
Santia Sanders and Vicmari Prospero led TSU offensively
with seven kills apiece. Sanders also led the team with eight digs along with
Calasia Williams.
TSU (0-6) turned in 29 kills in the contest but only managed
a .066 hitting percentage. Memphis (5-2) had 30 kills and hit .218. The Tigers
of Tennessee State held the advantage in digs, 38-35.
The Tigers got off to a good start in the opening set,
jumping out to a 3-1 lead. Memphis, however, outscored TSU, 7-1, to capture an
8-4 lead. Holding on to a slight 12-11 lead, Memphis extended its advantage to
20-11 later in the set, forcing a TSU timeout.
Out of the break, TSU regrouped and rallied to within three,
20-17, behind the serve of Santia Sanders. Another rally brought TSU within two
down the stretch but an untimely Tiger service error gave Memphis the, 25-22,
win.
In the second set, the teams played to a 10-10 deadlock
before Memphis captured the momentum and built its lead up to 18-11. TSU
continued to battle but Memphis was able to hold on for the 25-19 win.
TSU fell behind, 7-2, in the third set but managed to cut
the deficit down to one, 7-6. Six straight points from Memphis made the score
13-6 before U of M eventually took a 20-14 lead. TSU used small rallies down
the stretch but could never get over the hump, dropping the final set, 25-19.
Tennessee State will conclude action at the Memphis
Invitational tomorrow with a contests vs. Air Force at 10 a.m. and La Salle at
4 p.m. Air Force (2-5) snapped a five-match losing skid with a, 3-0, win over
La Salle (3-7) in the opening match of the tournament.
