Tennessee State Sails Past Belmont in Conference Opener

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NASHVILLE, Tennessee --- Tennessee State volleyball won its first Ohio Valley Conference match of the season versus Belmont Tuesday night in Kean Hall.

TSU improves to 3-8 overall, 1-0 in the conference after defeating the Bruins in four (23-25, 25-23, 25-18, 25-14). Belmont sinks to 0-13, 0-1 OVC.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• TSU posted more than 50 kills for the fifth time this season, combining for 51 as a team, led by senior Rachel Henderson with 15 and Julia Pierson with 14.
• The team tied for its season-high aces, serving eight against the Bruins.
• Three in blue and white served two aces a piece – Destiny Washington, Pierson and Khalia Jordan.
• Laken Te’o registered her seventh double-double of the season with 44 assists and 12 digs.
• The Tigers hit over .400 in the final two sets of the match with 17 kills in set three and 13 in set four.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The first set came fast and hard as the Tigers opened up conference play against the Bruins. Belmont, who was winless coming into the match, was hungry for a win. The Bruins hit for a .282 in set one, digging up 17 balls and rejecting one Tiger attack to go up 1-0 in the match, winning the set 25-23.

With the historic Aristocrat of Bands and a packed Kean Hall, the cheers helped TSU find its groove in set two. Freshman Aria Holmes kicked off the set with a solo block. The backcourt passed perfect balls to setter Laken Te’o, who pushed out 11 assists - five to Pierson who had a flawless set, hitting a .455. Big Blue worked seamlessly to win the set, and from there on out, the Tigers could not be stopped.

TSU dominated the final two sets, hitting above .400 with a combined 30 kills.

Big Blue finished the match with two five-point runs, to beat the Bruins 25-14 on a service error.

ATTENDANCE: 2,027

MATCH NOTES

• TSU improves to 12-22 in the all-time series against the Bruins, continuing the previous three-year streak of winning at home.
• The Tigers have won the last three home-openers, including sweeps Alabama A&M in 2016, and the same against Alcorn State at the Tiger Invitational last season.
• Destiny Washington makes her first start for TSU. Her showing versus Evansville proved her invaluable in the backcourt.

UP NEXT

Big Blue continues conference play Saturday, Sept. 22 in Kean Hall, as it hosts Eastern Illinois at noon.

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