COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee State volleyball team showed growth on the road Friday night, battling through long rallies and momentum swings before falling to Tennessee Tech in three sets (22-25, 13-25, 24-26) inside the Eblen Center.
Despite the final score, the Tigers (1-18, 0-6 OVC) delivered one of their most competitive stretches of the season — especially in a third set that saw TSU control the pace, built a seven-point lead over the Golden Eagles.
Tennessee State came out composed in the opening set, matching Tennessee Tech point for point behind strong net play from Maygan Miller-Garcia and steady defense from Eirini Bitsaktsi. The two teams traded leads nine times, with Aliyah Harris and Julia Culpepper connecting on well-timed kills to keep TSU within striking distance. Though the Golden Eagles edged out the frame 25-22, the Tigers' balanced attack set the tone for a competitive night.
The second set saw Tennessee Tech build early momentum, but the Tigers continued to hustle through long defensive rallies. Bitsaktsi anchored the back row with multiple diving saves, while Sagaia Reilly distributed the ball across the court to keep Tech's block guessing. The Golden Eagles ultimately took the set 25-13, but TSU's energy carried into the third.
The final set was all Tennessee State early. Fueled by confident serving and precise execution, the Tigers exploded to a 15-8 lead, forcing a Tennessee Tech timeout. Miller-Garcia sparked the run with a service ace and a pair of key blocks at the net, while Giulia Gainelli added an ace of her own to extend the gap.
Reilly kept the offense flowing, feeding Harris and Culpepper on the pins as TSU played with poise and control. The Tigers' energy was palpable, turning the Eblen Center crowd quiet as they closed in on set point.
Tennessee Tech rallied late, closing the gap to 20-20, but the Tigers refused to back down. Culpepper crushed a kill down the line to tie it at 23-all, and a Tech attack error gave TSU a 24-23 advantage. With the set on the line, the Golden Eagles managed to escape with three straight points to seal the 26-24 finish — a narrow ending to one of TSU's most complete sets of the season.
By the Numbers
Aliyah Harris led the Tigers with six kills.
Eirini Bitsaktsi notched 12 digs to pace the defense.
Maygan Miller-Garcia dominated the net with six blocks — the most by any player in the match.
Sagaia Reilly guided the offense with 15 assists.
Giulia Gainelli recorded a service ace and added valuable minutes off the bench.
Tennessee State will look to build on Friday's strong showing as it continues OVC play. The Tigers return to action Saturday afternoon for another matchup against Tennessee Tech, with first serve set for noon at the Eblen Center.
