MARTIN, Tenn. — Tennessee State volleyball showed resilience and competitive fire on Thursday evening, continuing their OVC stretch against a strong UT-Martin squad inside Skyhawk Arena. Despite TSU's hustle and long rallies throughout the night, the Tigers ultimately fell in straight sets (19-25, 14-25, 21-25).

TSU saw several standout performances across the board. Maygan Miller-Garcia and Melae Lacy powered the offense, each finishing with six kills, while Erini Bitsaktsi delivered a stellar defensive showing with a team-high 24 digs, anchoring the back row. Aliyah Harris added six kills and two blocks, providing a strong two-way presence. At the net, Miller-Garcia and Brie Blevins combined for 10 of TSU's 16 blocks, showcasing the Tigers' ability to challenge UT-Martin at the point of attack. Syndi Poston collected 24 receptions and seven digs, and Sagaia Reilly directed the offense with 20 assists, keeping TSU's attackers involved throughout the match.

Match Summary

Set 1: TSU opened the match with confidence, trading leads four times and piecing together an impressive 9–2 run sparked by I'onna Jones and Aliyah Harris, giving the Tigers a five-point advantage. UT-Martin responded late, taking the set 25–19, but TSU's early surge set the tone for the night.

Set 2: The Tigers continued to compete through extended rallies as Miller-Garcia, Harris, and Lacy added timely kills. Despite the push, the Skyhawks captured the set 25–14.

Set 3: TSU battled strong in the final frame, fueled by five kills from Lacy, who sparked a late Tiger surge. TSU went on a 5–2 run midway through the set, applying pressure before UT-Martin closed the match 25–21.

Up Next

The Tigers return to Skyhawk Arena on Friday, November 14 at 4 p.m. to close out the 2025 season. Fans can catch every point live on ESPN+ and TSUTigers.com.