NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee State pushed Southern Indiana to extra points in the opening set Saturday afternoon at Kean Hall, highlighting a competitive Ohio Valley Conference matchup in the Tigers' weekend series finale.
Wiktoria Jakubik led Tennessee State with eight kills, while Gabrielle Washington contributed six kills and a team-high 9.5 points. Washington also recorded three solo blocks and one block assist as the Tigers challenged the Screaming Eagles at the net.
Savanna Moore added four kills on 12 attempts without an attacking error, hitting .333, while Melae' Lacy contributed five kills and six digs. Gabriella Blevins finished with three kills and four total blocks, including one solo stop.
Triniti Jackson directed the offense with 15 assists, while Italya Carter added 11. Sydni Poston anchored the defense with a team-high 11 digs, and Jordan Imperial recorded two service aces.
Through the available portion of the match, Tennessee State had recorded 31 kills, 40 digs, three service aces and eight team blocks.
How It Happened
Set One: Southern Indiana 27, Tennessee State 25
Tennessee State delivered its strongest offensive performance of the match in the opening set, recording 14 kills and hitting .257.
After falling behind 7-5, the Tigers responded with kills from Lacy and Jakubik, along with a service ace from Jackson, to even the score at 7-7. Back-to-back kills from Jakubik tied the frame again at 8-8 before Imperial delivered a service ace to extend Tennessee State's advantage to 10-8.
The Tigers continued to answer Southern Indiana's offense, receiving kills from Sydney Robinson and Blevins to tie the set at 14-14. Moore followed with a kill to even the score at 15-15 before a combined block from Washington and Moore gave Tennessee State a 16-15 lead.
Tennessee State then put together a four-point scoring run behind kills from Lacy and Washington and a Southern Indiana attacking error, extending its advantage to 20-16.
The Tigers maintained their momentum as Jakubik and Washington delivered additional kills to push the lead to 23-18.
Southern Indiana rallied to tie the set at 23-23, but Tennessee State answered with a point on an attacking error to earn set point at 24-23. After the Screaming Eagles pulled ahead, Blevins delivered a kill to tie the frame at 25-25.
Southern Indiana secured the final two points to take the opening set, 27-25.
Set Two: Southern Indiana 25, Tennessee State 17
Tennessee State opened the second set with a kill from Washington and remained competitive through the early exchanges.
The Tigers used a block from Blevins and Moore to take a 3-2 advantage before Lacy delivered a kill to put Tennessee State ahead 5-4.
After Southern Indiana built an 8-5 lead, Moore answered with a kill, and Washington followed with a block and another kill to bring the Tigers within one at 9-8.
Tennessee State continued to battle as Lacy and Robinson added kills, while Blevins and Jakubik combined for a block to cut the deficit to 12-11.
The Screaming Eagles extended their advantage midway through the frame, but the Tigers continued to generate points behind kills from Blevins, Moore and Washington.
Washington added another block late in the set before Southern Indiana closed out the 25-17 decision.
Set Three: Southern Indiana 25, Tennessee State 20
Imperial opened the third set with a service ace to give Tennessee State an early 1-0 lead.
After Southern Indiana built a 5-1 advantage, Washington delivered a kill to cut the deficit to three. Lacy and Moore followed with kills as the Tigers continued to work back into the frame.
The Screaming Eagles extended their lead to 12-6, but Tennessee State responded with a service error by Southern Indiana and a solo block from Washington to narrow the margin to 12-8.
Jakubik added a kill to make it 15-9 before a Southern Indiana attacking error and service error brought Tennessee State within five at 16-11.
The Tigers then mounted a late rally behind consecutive kills from Jakubik and Robinson, cutting the deficit to 16-13. Jakubik followed with another kill to bring Tennessee State within two at 16-14.
After Southern Indiana moved ahead 17-14, Robinson recorded a kill to make it 17-15. The Tigers capitalized on consecutive Southern Indiana errors before Carter delivered a kill to trim the deficit to 18-17.
Southern Indiana responded with a three-point run to extend its advantage to 21-17, but Tennessee State continued to battle. Washington recorded another solo block to make it 23-19 before an attacking error by the Screaming Eagles brought the Tigers within four at 24-20.
Southern Indiana secured the final point to take the set, 25-20, and complete the match.
By the Numbers
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9: Kills by Wiktoria Jakubik, who led the Tigers offensively.
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10.5: Team-high points by Gabrielle Washington, including six kills and five total blocks.
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16: Digs by Sydni Poston, a team high.
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16: Assists by Triniti Jackson, who also recorded a service ace.
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9: Team blocks by Tennessee State, including five solo blocks.
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51: Digs by the Tigers, an improvement of 14 from Friday's matchup.
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34: Kills by Tennessee State, 10 more than Friday's total.
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.257: Tennessee State's hitting percentage in the opening set.
Up Next
Tennessee State returns to Kean Hall for its final regular-season home series against UT Martin on Nov. 17-18.
