NASHVILLE, TN --The Tennessee State Tiger volleyball team could not beat a potent Eagles offense Wednesday at home, falling to Morehead State in three sets (15-25, 23-25, 23-25). The loss dropped Tennessee State's record to 2-25 overall and 2-15 in OVC play. Though the match was a sweep, the Tigers fought hard and made it tough for the Eagles in sets two and three. 

Storm White finished with eight kills on the day to lead the Tigers offense while finishing with a hitting percentage of .778, the highest for TSU this season.  Hennesys Lalane (14 assists) and Aleksandra Rojecka (12 assists) combined for 26 helpers. TSU got a game-high 18 digs from Celianiz Cabranes to lead them defensively. The versatile Rojecka added four blocks. 

Game Notes

» Rayna Williams had a team-high one ace in the loss.
» Storm White had a team-high eight kills for Tennessee State.
» Tennessee State got a match-high 18 digs from Celianiz Cabranes.
» Tennessee State attackers were helped by a team-high 14 assists from Hennesys Lalane.

How It Happened

SET 1 | 15-25 Five Aces Hurt TSU in Set One
The Tigers found themselves in an early hole, losing a tough first set 25-15. Tennessee State trailed by as many as 10 points as Morehead State never gave up the lead in a set that was knotted up two times before the Eagles took control. Two early service errors by TSU seemed to give MSU a jump start in the set. An early 9-1 Eagle run made the score 11-3, forcing a Tiger timeout. A Celestial Miller kill after a long rally made the score 15-9, giving TSU some momentum. The Eagles snatched the momentum back and finished the set. 

SET 2 | 23-25 Tigers Start Fast But Can't Hold On
Tennessee State lost set two 25-23, digging a 2-0 hole in the match. Morehead State grabbed the advantage for good at 21-20 in a set that was tied up eight times before the Eagles took over in the second half of the stanza. Early on, the Tigers were rolling, using a 5-1 run to make the score 13-8, forcing the Eagles to call a timeout. At the time, TSU was swinging at a .389 percentage for the set. MSU scored eight of the next ten points to cut the lead to 17-15, forcing a TSU timeout. A quick 5-2 run allowed MSU to take a 21-20 lead. The rest of the set went back and forth before the Eagles prevailed. 

SET 3 | Eagles Overcome Tigers Hot Hitting to Take the Match
Tennessee State couldn't prolong the match and lost in set number three. The Tigers lost the third set 25-23. Morehead State grabbed the advantage for good at 24-23 in a set that was tied up four times before the Eagles took over in the second half of the stanza. MSU took a quick 5-0, but a Tiger 5-0 run tied the set at five. The Eagles took a 15-13 lead at the media break on the strength of three early aces. The Tigers sandwiched two 3-0 runs around an Eagle timeout to take a 20-18 lead. MSU closed the set 7-3 to take the match. 

The two teams will be back in action on Thursday to close out the season for the Tigers.