NASHVILLE — Tennessee State volleyball returns to Kean Hall this weekend to open Ohio Valley Conference play with a two-match series against Western Illinois. First serve is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 2, at 6 p.m. CT, followed by Saturday's match at 2 p.m. CT.

Friday's conference opener features Greek Night, while Saturday is Blue Out. Fans are encouraged to wear blue for the second match. Live statistics will be available for both matches.

The Tigers enter the weekend 0-11 overall and will play their first home match since Sept. 10. Western Illinois comes to Nashville at 0-12 overall and 0-2 in OVC play.

LAST TIME OUT

Tennessee State closed its nonconference schedule with a four-set loss at Alabama A&M on Sept. 22, falling 19-25, 15-25, 28-26, 17-25.

The Tigers extended the match with their strongest offensive set of the evening, recording 17 kills and hitting .364 in the third. TSU finished with 41 kills, 53 digs and 12 team blocks.

Wiktoria Jakubik recorded a double-double with 10 kills and 10 digs while adding five blocks. Sydney Robinson contributed eight kills on .267 hitting, and Triniti Jackson finished with 28 assists, seven kills, six digs and three blocks.

Julia Culpepper made her first start of the season following a knee injury, contributing seven kills and 10 digs. Jordan Imperial led the defense with 12 digs and supplied both Tiger service aces, while Gabrielle Washington recorded seven blocks.

TIGER LEADERS

Jakubik leads Tennessee State with 94 kills, averaging 2.61 per set, and 108.5 points. The senior earned Golden Eagle Invitational All-Tournament honors and recorded a career-high 18 kills against Evansville on Sept. 10. Robinson follows with 80 kills and 89.5 points.

Imperial anchors the back row with 114 digs, averaging 3.17 per set, and a team-high 11 service aces. Sydni Poston has contributed 72 digs and eight aces.

Washington leads the Tigers with 29 blocks, averaging 1.00 per set, and a .316 hitting percentage. Jakubik has added 21 blocks, while Brie Blevins has 18.

Jackson directs the offense with 241 assists, averaging 6.69 per set, alongside 80 digs and 15 blocks. The freshman earned OVC Co-Rookie of the Week honors Sept. 14 after totaling 81 assists, 25 digs, 10 kills and seven blocks across three matches.

SCOUTING WESTERN ILLINOIS

The Leathernecks are led by first-year head coach Mari Silva. Kennedy Adair paces Western Illinois with 94 kills, while Jaleah Bauss has recorded 178 assists and a team-high 13 service aces.

Grace Ulatowski leads WIU with 90 digs, and Maria Eduarda Pereira Tonella has contributed 26 blocks.

SERIES HISTORY

Western Illinois holds a 5-1 advantage in the series, but the teams have split their two meetings in Nashville. Tennessee State won the most recent matchup at Kean Hall, earning a five-set victory Nov. 15, 2024.

The Leathernecks swept last season's series in Macomb, winning in five sets Oct. 24 before taking the following match 25-16, 25-18, 25-18.

UP NEXT

Tennessee State travels to SIUE for an OVC series Oct. 9-10. Friday's match begins at 6 p.m. CT, followed by Saturday's meeting at 3 p.m. CT.