CHARLESTON, Ill.- Aniya
Williams,
Aria Holmes and
Aleksandra Rojecka combined for 32 kills but it was not enough as the Tennessee State University Tigers (9-13, 1-12 OVC) fell to the Eastern Illinois University Panthers (9-14, 2-11 OVC) in five sets, 25-18, 24-26, 23-25, 25-20 and 15-12 in Ohio Valley Conference action. The loss was the 10
th in a row for the Tigers.
After EIU took the first set 25-18, TSU stormed back to take sets two and three 26-24 and 25-23. In the second set, the Tigers started fast going up 5-0 with four forced errors and an
Aniya Williams kill. EIU used a 5-0 run of their own to take a 12-10 lead. Three more EIU errors fueled a 3-0 TSU run helping them to q 13-12 lead. Kills by Rojecka and
Mion Weldon gave TSU a 15-14 lead at the media break.
After the break, EIU got on a roll scoring the next seven points to take what looked like a commanding 21-16 lead. A Holmes kill stopped the run. After EIU's Danielle Allen converted on a kill to make it 22-17, the Tigers on the strength of kills by
Rayna Williams, Holmes and Rojecka scored the next six points and retook the lead at 23-22. Another Rojecka kill gave TSU set point at 24-23. After EIU tied it, Rojecka slammed her fourth kill of the set to make it set point again.
Sofia Garcia-Guerrios finished the set on a kill.
The third set was just as exciting as the second set. TSU took an early 3-0 lead. EIU chipped away and took the lead at 5-4 after two consecutive service aces by Elisavet Papageorgiou. After the Tigers took a 14-11 lead, EIU went to work going on a 9-1 run to take a 19-15 lead.
Rayna Williams wouldn't let TSU going down without a fight, scoring on four kills during a 7-1 run to give the Tigers the lead at 23-21. After EIU tied it at 23,
Storm White connected on a kill from
Gina Rivera-Ortiz to make it set point. An attack error by Papageorgiou gave TSU the set.
EIU tied the match at 2-2 winning the third set 25-20 then in the fifth set, they ran out to a 3-0 lead and never trailed in the set eventually winning 15-12. EIU's Allen (17 kills) Ireland Hieb (16) and Ella Collins, (14) combined on 47 kills. EIU's Summerlyn Smith lead both teams with 53 assists. She also added 14 digs. Rivera-Ortiz had a game high 25 digs.
The two teams will be back in action on Saturday at 4 p.m. CST.
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