MACOMB, ILL. --The Tennessee State Tiger volleyball team lost 3-2 (18-25, 25-21, 25-21, 21-25, 12-15) to the Murray State Racers Friday at Leatherneck Classic at Western Hall. The non-conference loss moved Tennessee State to 0-1 on the season. Senior Celestial Miller led a balanced attack, finishing with ten kills on the day to lead the Tigers' offense. Freshman Alanys Otero shined in her first collegiate match, tallying 31 assists. Defensively, TSU had two players reach double figures in digs: freshman Celianiz Cabranes had 22, and junior Storm White had 11. Kennedy Davis contributed nine blocks from the front row, and Gabrielle Johnson added six rejections.

Game Notes

» Celestial Miller had a match-high three aces in the loss.
» Celestial Miller had a team-high ten kills for Tennessee State.
» Tennessee State got a team-high 22 digs from Celianiz Cabranes.
» Tennessee State attackers were helped by a team-high 31 assists from Alanys Otero.

How It Happened

SET 1 | The Tigers couldn't survive a ferocious Murray State rally in the first set, falling 25-18 after leading by seven points at 8-1 earlier in the set.

SET 2 | Tennessee State fired back after dropping the first set to take set two 25-21, evening the match at 1-1. The TSU grabbed the advantage for good at 20-19 in a set with just one lead change before the Tigers took over in the second half of the stanza. The Tennessee State offense also got a boost from four aces in the stanza.

SET 3 | Tennessee State won 25-21 in set three to take a 2-1 advantage.  Tennessee State took the lead for good at 17-16 in a set that showcased two lead changes before the Tigers took over in the second half of the stanza. 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 Murray State attacks in the stanza.

SET 4 | TSU couldn't keep the win streak going, as the Racers forced a fifth set with a 25-21 fourth-set win. The Tigers lost the first point and never clawed back into the lead before falling in the set.

SET 5 | TSU took a lead of two sets to one before losing the final two sets, including a 15-12 loss in the fifth set. The Tigers couldn't hang on in a back-and-forth set five, losing in a stanza that featured four lead changes and was tied 11 times. Neither team led by more than three points in the set.

TSU will be back in action tomorrow at noon when they take on Cleveland State in the Leatherneck Classic.