PHOTO GALLERY | BOX SCORE
NASHVILLE --- In its last match of the season, Tennessee State volleyball (7-23, 3-13 OVC) hosted the Jacksonville State Gamecocks (23-12, 9-7 OVC) for Senior Day Saturday afternoon. In a battle to the finish, Tennessee State pushed the Gamecocks to five eventually dropping the match 3-2, (18-25, 25-18, 25-19, 14-25, 15-9).
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
SET BY SET
First Set: TSU found themselves with a nine-point gap, only six points from taking the first set. A 3-0 Gamecock run broken up by a service error, closed in on the Tigers forcing the offense to produce. TSU recorded four aces and Pierson stepped up posting two kills, followed by Katora Roberts and Maya Evans who closed the set with one a piece. Big Blue took set one 25-18.
Second Set: In a back-and-forth set, riddled with errors Jacksonville State hit a .536, put up four blocks and dug 13 balls to simply outplay the Tigers who hit a .135 and had 10 digs. Tied at 18, the Gamecocks closed it with a 9-0 run, beating TSU 25-18.
Third Set: The Gamecocks started the fourth set on a 4-0 run, stopped by its own errors. Julia Pierson was the first Tiger to score a point for TSU, followed by Megan Evans third service ace of her career. JSU went on another 4-0 run leaving the Tigers 12-4. Katora Roberts and Maya Evans posted kills, as well as Rachel Henderson, but Big Blue only hit for a .111 in the set, while the Gamecocks posted a .242 and four blocks. JSU took the set 25-19.
Fourth Set: Maya Evans came out putting down three kills helping TSU go on a 4-0 run. TSU allowed only three Gamecock points going up 11-3. Henderson and Ma. Evans combined for 11 kills, Katora Roberts put up 4. TSU as a whole, hit a .581 dominating set four, forcing a fifth set 25-14.
Fifth Set: In the short set, TSU needed to come out fast and hard using its offensive weapons in Rachel Henderson, Katora Roberts and Maya Evans. JSU scored the first point and Maya Evans answered with a kill. Julia Pierson put down two to lead the Gamecocks 5-4. Katora Roberts came up with another kill, but Jacksonville State took control. JSU went on multiple runs, creating a 4-point gap and finished the match on a 3-0 run, 15-9.
MATCH NOTES
- Tiger volleyball recognized its seniors, Cherlie Adorno DeJesus, Samantha Beltran, Katora Roberts and Alexis Johnson on Senior Day.
- TSU is now 12-22 in all-time play against the Gamecocks.
- Big Blue closed the season with an 7-23, 3-13 OVC record.
UP NEXT
Tennessee State finished its 2017 season tonight in Kean Hall.
#BigBlueRising
