Blue Raiders Claim Five-Set Thriller over TSU

Tuesday, October 2

Nashville, Tenn.

6:00 p.m.

Middle Tennessee

5-11, 0-3CUSA

Tennessee State

6-9, 4-0OVC

Middle Tennessee

TSU

10/2/2018 9:10:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

By: Brendan English, Athletic Communications Assistant

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Middle Tennessee volleyball team (5-11, 0-3) claimed a five-set victory over Tennessee State (6-9, 4-0) in Nashville, Tennessee on Tuesday evening. Three Blue Raiders notched double-doubles over the Tigers, leading Middle Tennessee to earn its fifth win of the season.

Key Blue Raiders
Senior Regan Coughlin, junior Dora Peonia and junior Taylor Hammill inked a double-double apiece in the contest against TSU. Coughlin recorded a career-high 20 kills while contributing 13 digs over the Tigers. Meanwhile, Peonia contributed 15 kills and 11 digs while Hammill posted a season-best 43 assists and 16 digs.

From their middle position, sophomore Josie Maxim added four kills for the Blue Raiders while freshman Julia Valdez and redshirt-senior Vonnie Covington added three kills apiece.

Junior Brienna Tankesley controlled the backrow, registering 16 digs while freshman Sarah Sumida (10) and Valdez (5) contributed a combined 15 digs.

Set by Set
Tennessee State jumped out to an early lead over the Blue Raiders, creating a 7-0 run in the first frame. However, the Blue Raiders responded with a kill from Coughlin (7-1) to spark a pair of Grever kills to bring the team within six of Tennessee State (9-3). The Blue Raiders battled back within seven (20-13) but were unable to get any closer as the Tigers secured the first frame, 25-17.

The Tigers opened the second frame with the first kill of the set, before Peonia responded with a Blue Raider kill to tie the frame at 1-all. TSU took control of the set, creating a 5-0 run before Middle Tennessee sparked a run of their own (3-0) off of back-to-back kills from Hammill and Coughlin to bring the Blue Raiders within one of the Tigers (8-7). TSU created another small run before Middle Tennessee created its second 3-0 run of the contest to tie the frame at 11-all. The two teams continued to battle back and forth, tying the set another three times. However, a kill from Covington sparked an 8-3 Blue Raider run, allowing Middle Tennessee to claim its first lead of the contest (19-14). The Blue Raiders continued its momentum through the end of the frame to claim the second set over the Tigers, 25-23.

After the intermission, the Blue Raiders opened the third frame on a 6-1 run off of a pair of Covington kills. Coughlin contributed early for Middle Tennessee, inking four kills in the frames first 12 points. The Bloomington, Ill. product knocked down her fifth kill of the third set to spark a 7-0 Middle Tennessee run with kills from Peonia (2), Coughlin (1) and Hammill (1) for the Blue Raiders to take a nine-point advantage over Tennessee State (13-4). Middle Tennessee continued to dominate the third set, allowing TSU to come within five before securing the third set, 25-18.

Tennessee State opened the four frame on a 7-4 run before the Blue Raiders battled back to tie the frame at 11-all after a kill from Coughlin. Tennessee State created a 7-3 run over the Blue Raiders (18-14). However, the team battled back after Sumida sparked a 3-1 Middle Tennessee run off of a service ace to bring the team within two (19-17). Despite the teams battle, the Blue Raiders were unable to get any closer as the team dropped the fourth frame to Tennessee State, 25-19.

The fifth and final frame, the teams battled back and forth tying the set five times (10-10). Peonia inked six kills in the fifth set for the Blue Raiders to claim the match over Tennessee State (15-11).

Up Next
Middle Tennessee returns to action this weekend, hosting a pair of Conference USA matches. The Blue Raiders will face Rice on Friday before rounding off the weekend against WKU on Sunday afternoon.