HOUSTON — The Tennessee State volleyball team dropped a pair of games on the final day of the Cougar Challenge to Ole Miss and Houston on Saturday.
GAME 1: TSU vs. Ole Miss
The Tigers were led by a double-double from Celestial Miller, who registered 11 kills and 11 digs on the day. Jayla Holcombe also added 11 kills to help the attack. On the defensive end, Hadley Pride chipped in for with 14 digs to go with three blocks from Storm White.
How It Happened
SET 1 | The Tigers grabbed control on the first point and never trailed to win the first set 25-22. Tennessee State led by as many as seven points at 17-10 before closing out the set, collecting 17 kills in the process. Tennessee State also supplemented their offense with four aces in the opening set.
SET 2 | Tennessee State dropped set two 25-16 to tie the match 1-1. The Tigers dropped the first point and fought from behind the rest of the way before dropping the set.
SET 3 | A third-set loss put Tennessee State behind two sets to one. The Tigers dropped a tough set 25-17. Tennessee State trailed by as many as eight points as Ole Miss grabbed the advantage for good at 11-10 in a set that was tied up five times before the Rebels took over the lead.
SET 4 | Tennessee State lost the fourth set and the match, falling 25-17. The Tigers trailed by as many as eight points as Ole Miss grabbed the advantage for good at 7-6 and Tennessee State wasn't able to recover in a set that was knotted up five times before the Rebels took over.
Game Notes
» Tennessee State had three players in double figures in kills.
» Alizaysha Sopi had a team-high two aces in the loss.
» Celestial Miller registered a double-double with 11 kills and 11 digs
» Tennessee State never trailed on the way to winning the first set 25-22.
» Jayla Holcombe had a team-high 11 kills for Tennessee State.
» Tennessee State got a team-high 14 digs from Hadley Pride.
» Tennessee State attackers were helped by a team-high 22 assists from Janke Pretorius.
GAME 2: TSU vs. Houston
In the second contest, TSU fell in three sets to Houston 3-0. Jayla Holcombe finished with 12 kills on the day to lead the Tigers attack. got 14 digs from Hadley Pride along with six blocks from Maygan Miller-Garcia to lead them defensively.
How It Happened
SET 1 | The Tigers found themselves in an early hole, dropping a tough first set 25-18. Tennessee State trailed by as many as seven points as Houston grabbed the advantage for good at 12-11 in a set that was tied up seven times before the Cougars took control.
SET 2 | Tennessee State then lost the second set 25-20 to fall behind in the match two sets to none. The Tigers fell behind on the first point and never clawed back into the lead before dropping the set.
SET 3 | Tennessee State was not able to win set three and was swept by Houston. The Tigers fell behind on the first point and never clawed back into the lead before falling in the set 25-21.
Up Next
» TSU opens OVC play on Wednesday at Morehead State at 4 PM.
» The Tigers return to Kean Gym on Friday hosting Tennessee Tech at 6 PM.
