MURRAY, Ky. --- The Tennessee State Tigers (2-0) fell to the Murray State Racers (2-0) in the Racer Arena's first fifth-set match since 2018, 3-2 (14-25, 26-28, 25-20, 27-25, 12,15).
 
After falling to the Racers on day one of the two-day series 3-0, the Tigers were looking for a win to split the opening series of the 2020-21 season.
 
Big Blue struggled in set one, sending over only four kills, averaging a negative hitting percentage. Kendall Bullock set off on what would be her 14 kill afternoon with two of the four kills in set one. Murray State's Kolby McClelland notched six kills alone, helping the Racers' to its first set, 25-14.
 
Tennessee State held on in set two forcing the set into extra points. Tied at 16, the teams went back and forth until Murray came up with three points in a row as the Racers were staring down another sweep of the Tigers after winning set two, 28-26.
 
The luck stopped at halftime for MSU as the Tigers took quick care of the Racers in set three, registering 13 kills, six block assists, and 26 digs on their way to a 25-20 victory, forcing a fourth set.
 
Bullock and Aria Holmes came up big in set four summing nine kills combined, with sophomore Alondrah Santana Rodriguez and Kariely Santana Delgado picking up three kills apiece. Murray fought hard to end the match in four, but the Tiger will prevailed taking it 27-25.
 
One set left and 15 points in the horizon, TSU took a fast 9-5 lead over the host MSU. Two, three-point runs allowed the Racers to take the lead 11-10. Santana Delgado notched a kill to try and keep the Tigers in it, but Racers ran away with the win and the series, 2-0 with a final set score of 15-12.

The Tiger hitters wouldn't be successful without its setters Sofia Garcia Guerrios who notched 26 assists and Kristian Marshall right behind her with 23. 
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• TSU's Leaders
  • Kills: Kendall Bullock - 14
  • Assists: Sofia Garcia Guerrios - 26
  • Digs: Gina Rivera Ortiz - 32
  • Aces: Kendall Bullock - 1
  • Blocks: Kendall Bullock - 4

MATCH NOTES

• Murray State improved the all-time series over the Tigers to 49-10.
• This marks the first five-set match in Racer Arena since 2018.
• Alondrah Santana Rodriguez made her first start for the Tigers.

UP NEXT
The Tigers host Austin Peay at home in Kean Hall Sunday, Feb. 14 with first serve set for 6 p.m.