HOUSTON — Maygan Miller-Garcia collected eight kills with a .533 attack percentage, but the Tennessee State volleyball team fell in five sets (23-25, 21-25, 25-23, 25-14, 12-15) to the Texas A&M-Commerce Lions Friday at Fertitta Center.

The non-conference loss dropped Tennessee State to 4-7 on the season.

The Tigers were led by a double-double from Alizaysha Sopi, who registered 11 kills and 10 digs on the day. Jayla Holcombe also added 20 kills to help the offense. On the defensive end, Hadley Pride chipped in for with 28 digs to go with nine blocks from Storm White.

How It Happened

SET 1 | The Lady Tigers found themselves in an early hole, dropping a nail-biter first set 25-23. Texas A&M-Commerce grabbed the advantage for good at 24-23 in a set that was tied up nine times before the Lions took over in the second half of the stanza.

SET 2 | A 25-21 second-set loss put Tennessee State in a 2-0 hole in the match. The Lady Tigers fell in a back-and-forth set, losing in a stanza that featured eight lead changes and was tied 13 times. Neither team led by more than four points along the way.

SET 3 | Tennessee State rallied back to pull within two sets to one, winning their first set of the match in the third stanza. The Lady Tigers won the set 25-23 thanks to a strong showing on the attacking side. Tennessee State put together a .344 attack percentage with 16 kills in the set win. The Lady Tigers opened up an 18-11 lead in the stanza and coasted to victory from there.

SET 4 | Tennessee State then kept the comeback train rolling, winning the fourth set 25-14 to bring the match level at two sets apiece. The Lady Tigers scored first and never trailed in the set to secure the victory. Tennessee State opened up as much as an 11 point lead at 23-12 before closing out the stanza.

SET 5 | Tennessee State dropped the first two sets, but rallied to tie it at two sets apiece before falling 15-12 in the fifth set. The Lady Tigers lost set five despite a solid performance on the attacking end. Tennessee State registered a .350 attack percentage with 10 kills in the set loss.

Game Notes

» Maygan Miller-Garcia was efficient in attacking situations in the match, accumulating eight kills while hitting .533.
» Janke Pretorius had a team-high two aces in the loss.
» Alizaysha Sopi registered a double-double with 11 kills and 10 digs
» Tennessee State never trailed on the way to winning the fourth set 25-14.
» Jayla Holcombe had a match-high 20 kills for Tennessee State.
» Tennessee State got a match-high 28 digs from Hadley Pride.
» Tennessee State attackers were helped by a team-high 27 assists from Janke Pretorius.

Up Next
» TSU will conclude the Cougar Challenge with Saturday matches against Ole Miss (11 a.m.) and Houston (5 p.m.)