NASHVILLE — Jazmin Vergara and Jayla Holcombe both registered double-doubles to help lead the Tennessee State volleyball team to a 3-2 victory (25-20, 20-25, 25-17, 22-25, 15-13) over Western Illinois on Friday evening at Kean Hall. 

The victory improved the Tigers' record to 9-20 overall and 5-11 in OVC action.

The  Tigers were led by double-doubles from both Vergara, who had 11 kills and 20 digs, and Holcombe, who had 16 kills and 11 blocks. Maygan Miller-Garcia also added 10 kills to help the attack. On the defensive end, Hadley Pride chipped in for with 28 digs to go with 12 blocks from Storm White.

How It Happened

SET 1 | The Tigers won the first point and never looked back to win the first set 25-20. Tennessee State led by seven points at 23-16 before finishing off the set, collecting 18 kills in the process. Tennessee State also supplemented their offense with four aces in the opening set.

SET 2 | Tennessee State then fell in the second set 25-20, tying the match at a set apiece. Western Illinois grabbed the advantage for good at 20-19 in a set that was knotted up 13 times before the Leathernecks took over in the second half of the stanza.

SET 3 | Tennessee State fired back following the set-two loss to take the third set and a 2-1 lead in the match. The Tigers took the set 25-17. Tennessee State took the lead for good at 15-14 in a set that had just one lead change before the Tigers took over in the second half of the stanza. Tennessee State's front row had a solid defensive performance, blocking four Western Illinois attacks in the stanza.

SET 4 | Tennessee State couldn't finish off a four-set win as the Leathernecks forced a fifth set with a 25-22 victory. The Tigers battled back from an eight-point deficit at 12-4, but it wasn't enough as Western Illinois held on to win the set.

SET 5 | Tennessee State and Western Illinois went back and forth all game, trading set wins until the Tigers took set five 15-13 and the match. The Tigers took a 1-0 lead and never looked back in set five to secure the victory. Tennessee State opened up as much as a six point lead at 8-2 before finishing off the set. got a solid defensive performance from a front row that blocked five Western Illinois attacks in the stanza.

Game Notes
» Jazmin Vergara and Jayla Holcombe both put up double-doubles in the win.
» Tennessee State had four players in double figures in kills.
» Tennessee State had three players in double figures in digs.
» Storm White had a team-high four aces in the win.
» Storm White had a match-high 12 blocks.
» The Tennessee State front row did a great job defensively, picking up 22 blocks in the match.
» Tennessee State never trailed on the way to winning the first set 25-20.
» Tennessee State never trailed on the way to winning the fourth set 15-13.
» The Tennessee State block excelled in a fifth-set win, shutting down five Western Illinois attacks.
» Jayla Holcombe had a match-high 16 kills for Tennessee State.
» Tennessee State got a match-high 28 digs from Hadley Pride.
» Tennessee State attackers were helped by a team-high 31 assists from Sagaia Reilly.