NASHVILLE — Tennessee State volleyball turned in one of its strongest performances of the young season Thursday night, pushing Evansville through four sets before falling 3-1 at Kean Hall.
Evansville took the opening two sets, 25-19 and 25-23, before Tennessee State answered with a 31-29 victory in an extended third set. The Aces escaped a late TSU push in the fourth to close the match, 25-23.
The Tigers produced season-best offensive numbers with 54 kills while hitting .224 as a team. TSU also finished with 72 digs and seven total blocks. The Tigers were at their best in the third set, putting down 17 kills with just three errors on 41 swings for a .341 hitting percentage.
Wiktoria Jakubik led the attack with a career-high 18 kills while hitting .359. Sydney Robinson followed with 12 kills and 13 digs for her first collegiate double-double.
Freshman Triniti Jackson delivered the best performance of her young career, filling the stat sheet with seven kills on 16 errorless swings for a .438 hitting percentage, 36 assists, 13 digs and two block assists.
Gabrielle Washington was equally efficient in the middle, finishing with eight kills and just one error on 17 attempts for a .412 hitting percentage. Washington also played a role in five of TSU's seven blocks, recording one solo block and four block assists to finish with 11 points.
Jordan Imperial anchored the back row with a career-high 17 digs and added two service aces, while Sydni Poston collected 15 digs.
Set One — Evansville 25, Tennessee State 19
Tennessee State settled in quickly after Evansville scored the opening point. Jackson recorded her first kill of the night before Washington delivered a solo block and Sydney Robinson followed with a kill to give TSU an early 5-2 advantage. Imperial added a service ace as the Tigers stretched the lead to 6-2.
The Tigers maintained their advantage through the middle of the frame. Jakubik's kill put TSU ahead 13-8, and Washington later connected on consecutive kills to give the Tigers a 15-12 advantage.
Evansville worked back to tie the set at 16 before Washington answered with another kill to even things at 17. The Aces took control from there, using a late run to pull away before closing the opening set, 25-19.
Set Two — Evansville 25, Tennessee State 23
TSU again started quickly in the second set. Jakubik opened the frame with consecutive kills before Imperial recorded her second ace of the match. Washington and Jackson combined for a block to extend the Tigers' early advantage to 7-4.
The teams traded momentum through the middle of the set. Jackson recorded kills to keep TSU within striking distance, while Washington, Savanna Moore and Melae Lacy contributed offensively as the Tigers stayed close.
Trailing 20-16, TSU mounted a late push. Jakubik and Robinson supplied kills before Jakubik added an ace to cut the deficit to 23-21. Robinson followed with another kill to make it 24-22, and an Evansville attack error brought the Tigers within one at 24-23 before the Aces secured the final point.
Set Three — Tennessee State 31, Evansville 29
The Tigers refused to go quietly in the third.
Evansville opened a 12-7 advantage, but TSU began cutting into the deficit behind Jakubik and Jackson. Jackson produced two kills during the comeback before Robinson's service ace brought the Tigers within 16-14.
TSU continued to chip away and eventually pulled even at 17. Jakubik then took over late, delivering consecutive kills to erase a 22-20 deficit and tie the set at 22. Robinson followed with a kill to put the Tigers ahead 23-22.
From there, neither side gave an inch. Robinson tied the frame at 25 before TSU moved ahead 26-25. After Evansville answered, Washington and Lacy combined for a block to even the set again at 27.
The teams remained tied at 29 before Jackson delivered a kill to put TSU at set point, 30-29. Robinson followed with the finishing kill as the Tigers took the marathon frame, 31-29, and forced a fourth set.
Set Four — Evansville 25, Tennessee State 23
The fourth set developed into another battle.
Washington and Jakubik supplied early kills as TSU stayed within striking distance. Robinson added three kills during the opening half of the frame, while Washington delivered back-to-back kills to bring the Tigers within 17-11.
Evansville eventually built a 20-14 advantage, but TSU answered with a late surge. Robinson and Jakubik combined for four kills during a 6-1 stretch that cut the deficit to 21-20.
After Evansville pushed back in front 22-20, Jakubik's kill made it a one-point set before Jackson and Washington combined for a block to tie the frame at 22. Evansville reached match point at 24-22, but Washington answered with her eighth kill of the night to bring TSU within 24-23. The Aces then secured the final point for the 25-23 win.
Up Next
Tennessee State will get another opportunity against Evansville when the Tigers travel to Indiana for a rematch Saturday.
