MARTIN, Tenn. — Tennessee State volleyball put together one of its most competitive outings of the season on Friday afternoon, battling wire-to-wire in a five-set thriller before ultimately falling 3–2 (18-25, 25-19, 16-25, 27-25, 7-15) to UT Martin at Skyhawk Fieldhouse.
Despite the final result, the Tigers showcased significant fight across the board. TSU was led offensively by Melae Lacy, who recorded 14 kills, and by Maygan Miller-Garcia, who added 13 kills and six blocks. Defensively, TSU had two players in double-digit digs, highlighted by a standout 34-dig performance from Erini Bitsaktsi and 11 digs from Italya Carter. Mikayla Moore added five blocks to bolster the front row, while Sagaia Reilly guided the attack with 30 assists.
Game Notes
» Erini Bitsaktsi led all players with two aces.
» Melae Lacy finished with a team-high 14 kills.
» TSU recorded a match-high 34 digs from Bitsaktsi.
» Sagaia Reilly paced the offense with 30 assists.
How It Happened
SET 1 | TSU stayed tight early, tying the frame five times before UT Martin pulled away midway through the set. The Tigers trailed by as few as one before the Skyhawks closed the opener 25–18.
SET 2 | Tennessee State responded with one of its strongest sets of the match, earning a 25–19 win to even the score at 1–1. The Tigers posted an efficient .290 hitting percentage in the frame with 13 kills, their best offensive set of the day. TSU grabbed the lead for good at 12–11 and maintained steady control from there, boosted by balanced scoring across Lacy, Miller-Garcia, and Julia Culpepper. The Tigers also held UTM to a .150 attack percentage, using clean first-ball touches and strong serve-receive to set the tone.
SET 3 | UT Martin regained momentum in the third, using a fast start to take the set 25–16. TSU was unable to take the lead in the frame despite 11 kills, and the Skyhawks moved ahead 2–1 in the match.
SET 4 | Tennessee State showed its resilience in a dramatic 27–25 fourth-set victory. The back-and-forth battle featured nine ties and six lead changes as TSU fought off multiple UTM surges to force a decisive fifth set. Lacy's timely kills and contributions from the TSU block helped the Tigers stay within striking distance throughout. TSU also delivered four service aces in the frame and added four team blocks, slowing the Skyhawks' offense at the net. Despite an even hitting line in the set, the Tigers' defensive grit and clutch serving proved decisive in extending the match.
SET 5 | The decisive frame belonged to UT Martin, as TSU fell behind early and was unable to string together a late push. The Tigers dropped the final set 15–7 despite continued energy from the front row and backcourt.
