Martin, Tenn. --- The Tennessee State University volleyball team battled for five-sets but came up short in a, 3-2, loss to UT Martin on the road Tuesday night.

The set scores were 22-25, 25-18, 27-25, 15-25, 12-15.

Tennessee State moved to (16-10, 11-7 OVC) while UT Martin improved to 16-12 (11-7 OVC).

Shaquita Williams registered a match-high 21 kills while Rachel Ambroch added 14 kills and 19 digs for a double-double. Terakka Walker led TSU with 23 digs and also recorded a double-double with 10 kills. Britani Hathorn (19), Erika Moss (16) and Calasia Williams (11) also notched double figures in digs.

Ashley Doherty and Britany Wilburn turned in 11 kills apiece to lead UTM while Emily Keaton posted 10. Kasey Elswick paced the Skyhawk defense with 27 digs.

After falling, 25-22, in a closely contested first set, TSU bounced back to win set two, 25-18, and evened the match 1-1.

The third set was a battle that took extra points to decide. Neither team hit particularly well in the frame as TSU posted a .034 hitting percentage while UTM notched a dismal .022. With the set on the line and TSU trailing, 25-24, timely kills from Shaquita Williams and Rachel Ambroch pushed TSU to the win.

The Tigers stumbled in the fourth set and only hit -.143 in a, 25-15, loss.

In the fifth and deciding set, TSU fell behind, 12-9, before a small rally that included kills from Shaquita Williams and Danielle Howell pulled the Tigers even. With the score knotted at 12-all, a couple of UTM kills and a TSU attack error saw the match slip away.  

Tennessee State finished the match with 64 kills and a .105 hitting percentage compared the UT Martin's 49 kills and .166 hitting percentage. TSU also held the advantage in digs, 95-88, but UTM controlled the net with 20 total blocks. 

The Tigers will remain on the road and continue OVC action on Friday, Nov. 11 at Murray State. Match time is slated for 7 p.m. at Racer Arena.