NASHVILLE, TN -- For the second consecutive day, the Tennessee State Tiger volleyball team lost in four sets to the Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles in Ohio Valley Conference play from Kean Hall. TSU won the first set but couldn't hold on and fell 26-24, 21-25, 7-25, 21-25. The loss dropped Tennessee State's record to 2-12 overall and 2-2 in OVC play.

A double-double led the Tigers from Celestial Miller, registering 15 kills and 11 digs on the day. The 15 kills is a season-high, and the digs are a career-high. Last night, she had five blocks, which is also a career-high. Aleksandra Rojecka also added a season-high 14 kills to help the offense. Gabriele Johnson swung at a .550 clip on six kills. Miller (.351) and Rojecka (.379) were both efficient attackers.

Setter Hennesys Lalane also had a double-double with a team-high 26 assists and 11 digs. On the defensive end, Celianiz Cabranes led four Tigers in double-digit digs with 13 digs, and Jayla Holcombe had 11 to go along with her team-leading three blocks. 

Game Notes

» TSU had four players in double figures in digs.
» Celianiz Cabranes had a team-high one ace in the loss.
» Celestial Miller registered a double-double with 15 kills and 11 digs
» Celestial Miller had a team-high 15 kills for Tennessee State.
» Tennessee State got a team-high 13 digs from Celianiz Cabranes.
» Tennessee State attackers were helped by a team-high 26 assists from Hennesys Lalane and 11 digs for a double-double. 

How It Happened

SET 1 | 26-24 Hot Hitting Propels Tigers to 1-0 Lead
The Tigers grabbed the first set 26-24, powered by a strong showing on the attacking end. Tennessee State registered a .341 attack percentage with 20 kills in the set victory. TSU opened up a 19-12 lead in the stanza and held on to win after a charge from USI. There were no lead changes in the set. Lalane was aggressive, starting the match with nine assists and six digs. The Tigers hit .341 in the set as a team. Rojecka, Miller, and Holcombe had five kills apiece. 

SET 2 | 21-25 Miller Time Not Enough As USI Takes the Second Set
Tennessee State lost the second set 25-21 to even the match 1-1. The Tigers trailed by as many as seven points as Southern Indiana grabbed the advantage for good at 8-7 in a set that was knotted up just once before the Screaming Eagles took over the lead. After scoring the first four points of the set, the Tigers lost the lead and played from behind the rest of the set. USI went on several runs to go up 12-8, forcing a TSU timeout. The Tigers went on a 4-0 run to tie the game at 12. USI then went up 18-15 and never looked back. Miller tried to keep her team in the set, contributing six kills and raising her hitting percentage to .400 for the match. Rojecka had five more kids and was hitting .571 after the set. 

SET 3 | 25-7 Hot Hitting By USI, Dooms State
Tennessee State dropped their second set in a row, falling behind in the match two sets to one. The Tigers fell behind on the first point and never took the lead before losing the set 25-7. USI hit a blistering .667 for the set and held TSU to a .045 percentage. 

SET 4 | 21-25 Late Rally Not Enough as TSU Falls For the Second Straight Day
Tennessee State lost the fourth set and the match, falling 25-21. The Tigers fell behind on the first point and fought from behind the rest of the way before falling in the set. Down 13-8, the Tigers then went on a 4-1 run to cut into the lead. Tigers fell behind again but clawed back to cut it to one at 22-21 on an ace by Cabranes. USI scored the final three points to take the match. 

The Tigers will try to get back to their winning ways when they travel to UT Martin on Tuesday.