MACOMB, Ill. – Tennessee State volleyball battled through a competitive road match-up but fell to Western Illinois in straight sets (16-25, 18-25, 18-25) Saturday afternoon inside Western Hall.

The Tigers (1-24, 0-12 OVC) showed stretches of strong play, particularly in the second and third sets, behind efficient setting from Sagaia Reilly and consistent back-row defense led by Erini Bitsaktsi. TSU finished with 33 assists, 51 digs, and a .282 team reception percentage in the match.

Tennessee State's offense was paced by Maygan Miller-Garcia, who tallied a .417 hitting percentage with 12 kills on 24 swings. Freshman I'Onna Jones added eight kills, while Aliyah Harris chipped in seven. Reilly directed the offense with 25 assists and contributed seven digs and a block, while Gabriella Blevins and Kennedy Draggs combined for five blocks at the net.

After a slow start in the first set, the Tigers found their rhythm late in the second. TSU closed the frame with a 4-1 stretch behind kills from Harris and Miller-Garcia and a key dig-to-attack sequence anchored by Bitsaktsi. The Big Blue carried that energy into the third, tying the score multiple times and producing their most balanced offensive set of the day with a .162 hitting clip and 60 percent side-out rate.

Defensively, Bitsaktsi led the way with 18 digs, while Brie Blevins, Miller-Garcia, and Melae Lacy provided key stops at the net and in coverage.

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By the Numbers

Maygan Miller-Garcia – 12 kills (.417), 1 block, 1 dig
I'Onna Jones – 8 kills, 4 digs
Aliyah Harris – 7 kills, 6 digs
Sagaia Reilly – 25 assists, 7 digs, 1 block
Erini Bitsaktsi – 18 digs, 4 assists
Team Totals: 33 assists, 51 digs, 5 total blocks

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Tennessee State returns home next weekend for a pair of OVC matchups against Southeast Missouri — Friday at 6 p.m. and Saturday at 12 p.m. inside Kean Hall.