TSU Tigers Host Crosstown-Rival Belmont in Home and Conference Opener

Tennessee State Match Notes | Belmont Match Notes

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Game 11: Tennessee State (2-8) vs. Belmont (0-12)
Date: Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2018
Location: Nashville, Tenn. 
Arena: Kean Hall
Time: 6 p.m. CST
TV: OVC Digital Network
Live Stats: Statbroadcast

MATCH INFORMATION: Tennessee State volleyball hosts cross-town rival Belmont in its conference and home opener Tuesday, Sept. 18 at 6 p.m. in Kean Hall.  The Tigers are 11-22 in the all-time series against the Bruins. The last meeting between TSU and Belmont concluded in a sweep in Kean Hall when Big Blue had its largest home crowd of the season. TSU has defeated the Bruins at home for the past three seasons. 

TSU UPDATE: The Tigers travelled to Evansville, Indiana to play the Purple Aces in a mid-week matchup. TSU fell to UE in its third five-set match of the season. Big Blue dropped the first two sets, but came back in the next two to force a fifth. Rachel Henderson and Kruize led the offensive push facilitated by setter Laken Te’o, Kruize recording her career-high kills with 14. Four Tigers served aces. Henderson and freshman Aria Holmes tied for the match-high five blocks.

ABOUT BELMONT: The Bruins have had a slow non-conference schedule, entering Ohio Valley Conference play 0-12. Outisde hitter Maggie Mullins leads Belmont with 98 kills and 274 attacks, minimizing errors to post a .215 hitting percentage. Carly Mason has pushed out 237 assists while libero Haley Sullivan holds down the backcourt with 98 digs on the season. 

FROM COACH SUTTON: "We're definitely hoping for a good turnout in the crowd. We're always looking for that at any home match, but definitely our home opener. I'm expectring us to work out a lot of kinks that we didn't work out in Evansville.  We have to start fast. I'm not more-so worried about what we're going to do in the middle of the matches because once we get in a rhythm, we're good. But, we have to work on the start and the finish so we can have a successful opening night."

UP NEXT: TSU hosts Eastern Illinois in Kean Hall Saturday, Sept. 22 at noon. 

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