LITTLE ROCK, AR --The Tennessee State volleyball team lost to Little Rock 3-1 (22-25, 25-16, 19-25, 17-25) to conclude the weekend series on Saturday. The loss dropped Tennessee State's record to 2-18 overall and 2-8 in OVC action.
A double-double led the Tigers from Celestial Miller, who registered 16 kills and 11 digs on the day. Jayla Holcombe had 13 kills, and Gabrielle Johnson added 12 to help the offense. On the defensive end, Celianiz Cabranes chipped in with 29 digs to go with eight blocks from Kennedy Davis.
How It Happened
SET 1 | 22-25 Late Push Gives LR First Set
The Tigers found themselves in an early deficit, losing the first set 25-22. Little Rock grabbed the advantage for good at 20-19 in a set that was tied up six times before the Trojans took over in the second half of the stanza. With the up 19-18, LR went on a 5-1 run to go up 23-20. The Tigers scored the following two points to cut the lead to one, but two attack errors by TSU finished the set.
SET 2 | 25-16 It's Miller Time, as TSU Dominates Set Two.
Tennessee State responded to pick up a 25-16 victory in set two, evening the match at one set apiece. The Tigers grabbed control of the set lead early on at 5-4 and never looked back. Tennessee State led by as many as 11 points at 24-13 before closing out the set, collecting 15 kills in the set. The Tennessee State offense also got a boost from three aces in the stanza. Tennessee State's front row had a solid defensive performance, blocking four Little Rock attacks in the stanza. Miller personally took over the set, getting six kills and converting two service aces. She did most of her damage late. The Trojans scored two straight points to make the score 15-11. Miller then had a hand in seven of the following nine TSU points to make the score 24-13.
SET 3 | 19-25 Late Rally Comes Up Short For Tigers
Little Rock went ahead 2-1 in the match after taking down the Tigers in the third set. The Tigers dropped a tough set 25-19. Tennessee State trailed by as many as seven points as Little Rock grabbed the advantage for good at 9-8 in a set that was knotted up two times before the Trojans took over the lead. Late in the set, TSU used a 4-0 run to cut a seven-point deficit to three at 22-19. Johnson had three kills during the run. Johnson had a total of six kills in the stanza.
SET 4 | 17-25 Tigers Can't Hold on to Early Lead
To finish the match, Tennessee State fell in the fourth set, 25-17. The Tigers trailed by as many as eight points as Little Rock grabbed the advantage for good at 14-13, and Tennessee State couldn't recover in a set that was knotted up seven times before the Trojans took over in the second half of the stanza. TSU started fast, going up 7-3 on a Davis kill. With the Tigers up 12-10, LR scored ten of the next twelve points to take control of the set.
Game Notes
» Tennessee State had three players in double figures in kills. (Miller 16, Holcombe 13 and Johnson 12)
» Tennessee State had three players in double figures in digs.
» Gabrielle Johnson had a team-high two aces in the loss.
» Kennedy Davis had a match-high eight blocks.
» Celestial Miller registered a double-double with a match-high 16 kills and 11 digs
» Tennessee State got a match-high 29 digs from Celianiz Cabranes.
» Tennessee State attackers were helped by a team-high 20 assists from Alanys Otero.
The Tigers will travel to Illinois to take on SIUE this Friday and Saturday.
