EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – Gabrielle Washington delivered a standout offensive performance with a match-high 13 kills and a .522 hitting percentage as Tennessee State volleyball battled through two competitive sets in a 3-0 setback to Southern Illinois Edwardsville (17-25, 20-25, 20-25) Saturday afternoon at First Community Arena.
The Tigers (0-15, 0-4 OVC) showed improvement throughout the match, increasing their offensive production in each set while challenging the Cougars in the final two frames.
Washington led all players with 13 kills on 23 attempts, committing just one attacking error. She added a solo block and a block assist to finish with a match-high 14.5 points. Her performance accounted for more than half of Tennessee State's 25 kills.
Jordan Imperial anchored the defensive effort with a match-high 16 digs, surpassing her nine-dig performance from Friday's series opener. Imperial also contributed a service ace.
At the net, Wiktoria Jakubik recorded three kills, one solo block and two block assists, finishing with five points. Gabriella Blevins added two kills on four attempts without an attacking error, hitting .500 while contributing a solo block and a block assist.
Freshman Triniti Jackson directed the offense with 12 assists and four digs, while Italya Carter added nine assists and a service ace.
How It Happened
Set One | SIUE 25, Tennessee State 17
Tennessee State opened Saturday's rematch looking to establish its offense against the Cougars.
The Tigers recorded six kills in the opening frame while working to find their rhythm offensively. SIUE finished with 12 kills and a .200 hitting percentage to take the first set, 25-17.
Set Two | SIUE 25, Tennessee State 20
The Tigers responded with a more competitive second set, recording nine kills and improving their hitting percentage to .108.
Tennessee State matched SIUE throughout a tightly contested frame that featured 14 ties and five lead changes. The Tigers continued to challenge the Cougars, keeping the set competitive before SIUE secured the 25-20 decision.
The second-set effort marked an improvement from the opening frame, with TSU increasing its kill total while reducing its attacking errors from eight to five.
Set Three | SIUE 25, Tennessee State 20
Tennessee State delivered its strongest offensive set of the afternoon in the final frame, recording 10 kills on 23 attempts for a .174 hitting percentage.
The Tigers continued to push SIUE in another competitive set that featured 15 ties and six lead changes, the most of any frame in the match.
TSU maintained its offensive improvement and challenged the Cougars throughout the third set, but SIUE held on for a 25-20 victory to complete the sweep.
By the Numbers
- Gabrielle Washington: Match-high 13 kills, .522 hitting percentage, 1 solo block, 1 block assist, 14.5 points
- Jordan Imperial: Match-high 16 digs, 1 service ace
- Wiktoria Jakubik: 3 kills, 1 solo block, 2 block assists, 5 points
- Gabriella Blevins: 2 kills, .500 hitting percentage, 1 solo block, 1 block assist
- Triniti Jackson: 12 assists, 4 digs
- Italya Carter: 9 assists, 1 service ace
- Julia Culpepper: 5 digs
- Tennessee State: 25 kills, 23 assists, 36 digs, 4 service aces and 5 total blocks
Tennessee State improved its hitting percentage in each set, moving from -.074 in the opening frame to .108 in the second and .174 in the third.
The Tigers also held a 36-32 advantage in digs and finished with four service aces compared to SIUE's three.
Up Next
Tennessee State continues Ohio Valley Conference road play next Thursday as they take on EIU. The Tigers will look to build on Saturday's offensive improvements as they continue their conference schedule.
