Nashville, Tenn. --- The Tennessee State University
volleyball team won the first set before dropping three straight in a, 3-1,
loss to Jacksonville State Friday night in Kean Hall.
The set scores were: 25-23, 19-25, 21-25, 23-25.
Terakka Walker led TSU (13-9, 9-6 OVC) with 17 kills while
Shaquita Williams added 12. Walker also recorded a double-double as she tallied
17 digs. Britani Hathorn led TSU with 18 digs.
Liza Senenkova paced the Gamecocks (9-16, 7-8 OVC) with 13
kills while Lauren Harkins (16), Alina Agamy (14), Abbey Heredia (12), Hivya
Leite (11) and Kelly Cole (10) each tallied double figure digs for JSU.
In the opening set, Tennessee State used four unanswered
points to go ahead, 11-7. Jacksonville State, however, responded with a 7-3 run
to pull even at 14-all. After trading points over the next few rallies, TSU
managed to go back up, 20-17. The Tigers held off a Gamecock rally and went on
to win the set, 25-23.
The early part of the second set was a see-saw battle full
of high energy from both teams. After playing to a, 9-9, deadlock, JSU used a
spurt to grab a 14-10 lead. The Gamecocks stretched their advantage to, 20-13,
on a net violation by the Tigers before going on to win, 25-19.
The score was knotted, 11-11, in the third frame when JSU
outscored TSU, 6-1, to capture a 17-12 lead. TSU cut the deficit down to just
three points (19-16) before JSU moved ahead, 24-17. The Tigers battled to hold
off four set points but the Gamecocks held on to win, 25-21. TSU only hit .070
in the contest.
TSU used a timeout after JSU went ahead, 17-14, behind three
unanswered points in the fourth set. The Tigers clawed back within one, twice,
before consecutive points from the Gamecocks made the score, 24-21, in favor of
the visitors. Following the Tigers' second timeout of the frame, back-to-back
kills from Terakka Walker and Shaquita Williams pulled TSU to within one,
24-23. JSU, however, managed to keep the Tigers at bay and escape with the win.
Tennessee State finished the match with 45 kills and a .068
hitting percentage while Jacksonville State hit .161 and tallied 46 kills.
The Tigers return to action tomorrow when they host
Tennessee Tech. Match time is slated for 2 p.m. in Kean Hall.
