MARTIN, Tenn.- Tennessee State University volleyball concluded its 2023 season with a hard-fought 3-2 loss to UT Martin saturday afternoon. The Tigers finished the match with strong individual performances, including 30 assists from Sagaia Reilly and a team-high 14 kills from Melae Lacy, but ultimately fell to the Skyhawks in five sets (18-25, 25-19, 16-25, 27-25, 7-15).
TSU showcased resilience throughout the contest, responding after dropping the first set to claim the second 25-19. The Tigers hit .290 with 13 kills in that frame, their most efficient offensive set of the day. Despite a strong showing in the fourth set, winning 27-25 after nine ties and six lead changes, Tennessee State couldn’t maintain the momentum in the decisive fifth set.Erini Bitsaktsi led all players with two aces and a match-high 34 digs.
UT martin opened the match with a 25-18 first-set victory, pulling away midway through the frame. The Skyhawks then regained momentum in the third, winning 25-16 despite 11 TSU kills. In the fourth set, Lacy’s key kills and strong blocking helped the tigers force a fifth set. However, UT Martin controlled the final frame, securing the win 15-7. Julia Culpepper also contributed to TSU’s offensive efforts throughout the match.
