NASHVILLE — Tennessee State volleyball will make the return trip to Evansville on Saturday as the Tigers face the Purple Aces at 4 p.m. at Meeks Family Fieldhouse.

The matchup comes just two days after the teams met at Kean Hall, where Tennessee State pushed Evansville through four sets before falling 25-19, 25-23, 29-31, 25-23.

The Tigers (0-8) turned in their strongest offensive performance of the season Thursday, finishing with 54 kills and a .224 hitting percentage. TSU also recorded 72 digs and seven total blocks while taking a set for the first time this season.

Last Time Out

Tennessee State had several career performances in Thursday's first meeting with Evansville.

Wiktoria Jakubik led the attack with a career-high 18 kills while hitting .359 on 39 swings. Sydney Robinson followed with 12 kills and 13 digs for her first collegiate double-double.

Gabrielle Washington provided one of her most efficient performances of the season, 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.

The Tigers were at their best offensively in the third set, recording 17 kills with just three errors on 41 attempts for a .341 hitting percentage. TSU battled through an extended frame before consecutive kills from Triniti Jackson and Robinson secured a 31-29 victory.

Jackson, Imperial Coming Off Career Nights

Freshman setter Triniti Jackson enters Saturday's rematch following the best performance of her young career. Jackson recorded her first collegiate double-double with career highs of 36 assists and 13 digs while adding a career-high seven kills. She did not commit an attack error on 16 swings, finishing with a .438 hitting percentage while adding two block assists.

Jackson delivered in key moments throughout the match. With the third set tied at 29, she put down a kill to give Tennessee State set point before Robinson followed with the finishing kill for the 31-29 victory. In the fourth, Jackson teamed with Washington for a block that erased the Tigers' late deficit and tied the score at 22.

Jordan Imperial also turned in a career performance from the back row, recording a career-high 17 digs to lead the Tigers defensively. The libero added two service aces and three assists as Tennessee State finished with 72 digs.

Imperial was one of four Tigers to reach double figures in digs. Sydni Poston finished with 15, while Jackson and Robinson each collected 13. The Tigers held Evansville to a .219 hitting percentage over four sets.

Third-Set Breakthrough

Tennessee State broke through in an extended third set Thursday, overcoming multiple deficits to earn a 31-29 victory.

Evansville held a 22-20 advantage late before Jakubik delivered consecutive kills to tie the score. Robinson followed with a kill to put the Tigers in front, 23-22.

Neither side was able to create separation from there. Robinson tied the frame at 25 before TSU moved ahead 26-25. Washington and Melae Lacy later combined for a block to even the set at 27 as the teams continued trading points.

With the score tied at 29, Jackson recorded her seventh kill of the match to give TSU its next set-point opportunity. Robinson followed with the finishing kill to secure the Tigers' first set victory of the season.

TSU nearly extended the match again in the fourth. After trailing 20-14, the Tigers worked their way back and eventually tied the frame at 22 on a Jackson-Washington block. Washington later recorded a kill to make it 24-23 before Evansville secured the final point.

Jakubik, Washington Lead Attack

Jakubik enters Saturday following consecutive strong offensive performances.

The Golden Eagle Invitational All-Tournament Team selection recorded eight kills without an error on 12 attempts to hit .667 against Tennessee Tech before following with a career-high 18 kills at a .359 clip against Evansville.

Washington has also provided production in the middle. Her eight-kill performance Thursday came after totaling 14 kills and hitting .522 across three matches at the Golden Eagle Invitational. She also recorded eight total blocks during the tournament before adding five against Evansville.

Together, Jakubik and Washington combined for 26 kills while hitting .375 in Thursday's match. The duo committed just five errors across 56 attacks.

Series History

Saturday will mark the sixth meeting between Tennessee State and Evansville and the second in three days.

Evansville holds a 4-1 advantage in the all-time series, but Tennessee State's lone victory came in its most recent trip to Evansville. The Tigers earned a 3-1 road victory on Sept. 6, 2022.

TSU is 1-1 all-time at Evansville. The Tigers' first trip to Meeks Family Fieldhouse came in 2018, when Evansville earned a five-set victory.

Saturday will also mark the first time Tennessee State and Evansville have played twice in the same season.

Up Next

First serve between Tennessee State and Evansville is set for 4 p.m. Saturday at Meeks Family Fieldhouse in Evansville, Indiana.