NASHVILLE- The Tennessee State University Tiger Volleyball Team (8-2, 0-1 OVC) came into their Ohio Valley Conference with Belmont University Bruins (3-8, 1-0 OVC) on a three-game winning streak but fell to their crosstown rival in a four-set instant classic 26-24, 24-26, 30-28 and 25-20. Despite the loss, the Tigers displayed a no quit attitude throughout the contest, rallying to force deuce in the first three sets. Belmont never gave up the lead in the fourth set despite a TSU rallied at the end before falling. 

"It is always tough taking a loss, but we have to focus on executing," said TSU head coach Donika Sutton. "We will fight until the end, but it is us that must put the exclamation point on the set to finish. Losing the third set was difficult after fighting so hard to get back in it."

First Set: Belmont 26-24

TSU started off slowly going down 15-9 at the media timeout. Down 18-12, the Tigers went to work winning eight of the next nine points to take a 20-19 lead. After going down 24-22, senior Mion Weldon tied the score on consecutive kills. Belmont then scored the next two points to take the first set.

Second Set: TSU 26-24

This set was a highly contested seesaw battle that featured 12 ties and four lead changes. This time the Tigers started fast going up 13-9 on a kill by senior Aniya Williams on an assist from junior Sofia Garcia-Guerrios. Belmont chipped away at the lead and eventually went up 18-16. 

After a Belmont attack error tied the game back at 18, Belmont then won the next three points to take a 21-18 lead. The Tigers then scored four of the next five points to tie set at 22. Senior Kendall Washington fueled that run with two kills and Garcia-Guerrios had a service ace. Then the two teams traded points. Belmont had set point, but Weldon came up with a huge kill on an assist from Garcia-Guerrios. Williams made it set point with a service ace. A Belmont attack error then gave TSU the set. 

Third Set: Belmont 30-28

The pivotal third set featured 13 lead changes, seven ties and 11 set points. The teams went back and forth before Belmont took a 15-14 lead at the media timeout. After a Bruin kill made it 20-17, the Tigers took a timeout. Belmont then went on another run setting up the first set point at 24-19. 

The never quit Tigers then rallied back with six straight points to force set point at 25-24. During the run, Garcia-Guerrios had five assists, senior Aria Holmes has three points and Washington had two points. The teams then went back and forth before the Bruins finally finished TSU off. 

Fourth Set: Belmont 25-20

Losing the highly contested third set seemed to take the air of the Tigers. Belmont never gave up the lead in the deciding fourth set. The Bruin held a 15-10 advantage at the media break. After going down 21-15, the Tigers took a timeout and then scored the next three points to make it 21-18 on a Williams kill from Garcia-Guerrios but that was as close as they could get before Belmont finished the match with a kill. 

Garcia-Guerrios led the Tigers with 39 assists. Williams had a team high 16 points with Weldon chipping in with 14.5 points and a team high 13 kills. Defensively, junior Gina Rivera-Ortiz 29 digs. The Tigers will now prepare for a two-game weekend OVC home series against Southeast Missouri State University. Friday's contest will start at 6pm and Saturday will start at 2pm. Both games will be played at Kean Hall.