NASHVILLE, TN --The Tennessee State Tiger volleyball team fell Friday as the Southeast Missouri State Redhawks posted a 3-1 (19-25, 25-21, 13-25, 18-25) victory in OVC action at the Kean Hall.

The loss is the fourth in a row, dropping TSU's record to 2-14 overall and 2-4 in OVC play.

A double-double led the Tigers from Celestial Miller, who registered ten kills and 15 digs on the day. In her best game in a Tiger uniform, Nicole Taylor added nine kills to help the offense. On the defensive end, Celianiz Cabranes led three Tigers with double digits in digs with 21 to go with six blocks from Gabrielle Johnson. Aleksandra Rojecka, in her first game at setter, dished out a team-high 28 assists. 

Game Notes

» Tennessee State had three players in double figures in digs (Cabranes 21, Miller 15, and Jayla Holcombe 12). 
» Holcombe had a team-high two aces in the loss
» Celestial Miller registered a double-double with ten kills and 15 digs
» Tennessee State got a match-high 21 digs from Celianiz Cabranes.
» Tennessee State attackers were helped by a team-high 28 assists from Aleksandra Rojecka.

How It Happened

SET 1 | 19-25 Late Runs Dooms Tigers 
The Tigers found themselves in an early deficit, dropping a tough first set 25-19. Tennessee State trailed by as many as six points as Southeast Missouri State grabbed the advantage for good at 18-17 in a set that was tied up 11 times before the Redhawks took over in the second half of the stanza. The Tigers went into the media break up 15-14, with Rojecka dishing out seven assists. A quick 3-0 SEMO run gave them a 19-17 advantage, forcing a Tiger timeout. SEMO finished on a 6-1 run to put the set away.

SET 2 | 25-21 Defense Ties The Match For TSU
TSU rallied from a first-set loss to take set two 25-21, evening the match at 1-1. The Tigers grabbed control of the set lead early on at 2-1 and never trailed. Tennessee State led by as many as 10 points at 17-7 before finishing the set. Tennessee State's front row had a solid defensive performance, blocking five Southeast Missouri State attacks in the stanza. TSU jumped out to an 8-1 lead on the strength of four blocks by Johnson. Taylor's two kills during a 5-1 run gave the Tigers a 17-7 lead. SEMO inched back, getting as close as 22-20. TSU finished the set on a 3-1 run. Miller got kills on two of the three points. 

SET 3 | 13-25 Errors Hurt Tigers 
Southeast Missouri State responded to win set number three, putting Tennessee State in a two sets to one hole. The Tigers lost the first point and fought from behind the rest of the way before falling in the set 25-13. The Tigers finished the set swinging at a -.028 clip. 

SET 4 | 25-18 Rally Falls Short
Tennessee State then lost the fourth set 25-18 to finish the match. The Tigers dropped the first point and fought from behind the rest of the way before losing the set. SEMO started the match by scoring the first six points. TSU fought back on a 6-1 run to cut the lead to 11-10. It looked like the Tigers tied the score, but a reversed call gave SEMO a 12-10 lead, and TSU couldn't get the momentum to get back in the game. 

The two teams will be back in action on Saturday at noon.