EVANSVILLE, Ind. — Tennessee State volleyball captured the second set and received strong offensive performances from Wiktoria Jakubik and Gabrielle Washington before falling to Evansville in four sets Saturday afternoon at the Carson Center.
The Tigers fell 25-15, 22-25, 25-11, 25-20, moving to 0-9 on the season.
Jakubik paced TSU offensively with 12 kills on 25 attacks, hitting .280 while adding two block assists. Washington turned in one of her most efficient performances of the season, finishing with nine kills and just two errors on 16 swings for a .438 hitting percentage. She also contributed four total blocks, including one solo, and an ace.
Sydney Robinson added eight kills, while Melae Lacy recorded four. Triniti Jackson directed the offense with 29 assists while adding two kills, an ace and two total blocks.
Tigers Respond in Second Set
After dropping the opening frame, Tennessee State responded with its strongest offensive set of the afternoon. The Tigers totaled 13 kills with just four errors on 24 attacks to hit .375 in the second.
The frame featured 11 ties and six lead changes as the teams battled throughout. TSU ultimately came away with the 25-22 victory to even the match at one set apiece.
Evansville answered in the third, taking a 25-11 victory to regain control of the match.
TSU continued to battle in the fourth and improved its efficiency, committing just three attacking errors and hitting .200. The Tigers kept the frame within reach before Evansville closed out the match with a 25-20 win.
Tigers Apply Pressure From Service Line
Tennessee State finished with eight service aces, led by Jordan Imperial with a match-high four. Sydni Poston, Italya Carter, Jackson and Washington each added an ace. Imperial also tied Poston for the team lead with six digs.
The Tigers finished with 36 kills, 32 assists, eight aces and 14 block assists. TSU hit .152 for the match, highlighted by its .375 performance in the second set.
Evansville finished with 56 kills and hit .351 to improve to 2-7.
Up Next
Tennessee State will remain on the road as the Tigers travel to Clarksville to face Austin Peay on Wednesday, Sept. 16, at 6 p.m. TSU will then travel to Huntsville, Ala., to take on Alabama A&M on Tuesday, Sept. 22, at 6 p.m.
The two matches will close out the Tigers' non-conference schedule before TSU opens Ohio Valley Conference play at home against Western Illinois on Oct. 2 at Kean Hall.
