COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - For the second-straight night, the Tennessee State University Tigers (9-5, 1-4 OVC) lost in a four-set match 3-1 to the Tennessee Tech (9-6, 4-0 OVC). The Golden Eagles dominated the first and fourth sets to win 14-25, 25-17, 24-26 and 15-25. 
 
First Set: Tech 25-14
 
TSU grabbed a quick up 3-1 advantage before Tech stormed back using a 6-0 run and eventually led 11-6. The run gave the Golden Eagles a lead that they didn't give up in the set. A Skylar Boom kill gave Tech a 15-7 lead at the media break.
 
The Tigers didn't fare much better after the break, as the Golden Eagles' lead kept increasing. A Boom kill made it set point at 24-13. Tech finished off the set on a TSU ball handling error. 
 
Second Set: TSU 25-17
 
TSU once again led early 4-1. Tech rallied to tie the score at nine on a McKenna Young service ace. Both teams then traded points until two kills by TSU senior Kendall Washington and a kill by junior Sofia Garcia-Guerrios to make it 14-11 TSU. Tech's Taylor Dorsey finished off a 3-0 run with a tip kill over the TSU front wall to knot it at 14. Senior Aniya Williams then converted on a kill to make it 15-14 at the media break. 
 
In the first matchup, Tech's outside hitters pretty much had their way. In this set, the Tigers used their strong net defense to get five blocks during a 9-1 run to take control of the set. A kill by senior Aria Holmes secured the set win for the Tigers.
 
Third Set: 26-24 Tech
 
After trailing 2-0, The Tigers went on a 5-1 run to go up 7-4 on a Garcia-Guerrios service ace. A ball-handling error by Williams tied the score at seven. Both teams traded points until Tech's Ashley Hand converted on a kill to give her team a 15-13 lead at the media break.
 
Tech's Madeline Furtado kill gave her team their first three-point lead since the first set. A kill by TSU junior Alexsandra Rojecka started a run that eventually tied the game at 17. With the back against the wall, Aniya Williams tied the set 24-all with a block, but the Golden Eagles broke the set tie with a kill by Furtado.
 
Fourth Set: Tech 25-15
 
Trailing 10-8, Tech's Dallas Oates came up huge after teammate Morgan Gish converted on a kill. Oates had three consecutive kills to make it 14-8.
 
Tech stretched the lead to eight (18-10) before TSU calling another timeout. Two straight points got the Tigers within six points, but it was too little too late as the Golden Eagles finished off the match with another Oates kill.
 
Tennessee State returns home next weekend to host Morehead State on Friday, October 8 at 6 p.m. and Saturday, October 9 at 2 p.m. Both games will be streamed live on ESPN+.