JACKSON, Miss. – TSU dropped a hard-fought match to Jackson State by a 3-1 margin on Sunday.

Jackson State gained control of set one as they took a 4-4 tie and turned it into a 10-5 lead. TSU fought back and narrowed the margin to 11-8 but JSU reeled off eight kills to lead 15-11. The closest TSU would get to within JSU the rest of the way was four points as JSU won set one 25-18.

Set two belonged exclusively to TSU as they led from start to finish. TSU led 11-3 and fought off a brief JSU rally to cruise to a 25-16 win.

Jackson State claimed an early 9-5 lead to open set three but TSU bounced back and claimed a 10-9 lead thanks to four JSU errors. TSU still led 12-11 but JSU counteted with three straight kills and a TSU attack error for a 15-12 lead. TSU would fight back once again and tie it at 15-all but saw the rally end on a service error which gave JSU a 16-15 advantage.

Jackson State would extend its lead to 20-16 which led to a TSU timeout. The timeout worked as the Tigers narrowed the gap to 20-18 but a JSU kill moved them ahead 21-19. JSU would commit a side out to move TSU within 21-19 followed by JSU service and attack error which bright TSU to within 21-20. A kill from Ava Houston followed by a JSU error moved TSU ahead 22-21 but JSU responded with back-to-back kills and a big block at the net for a 24-22 margin. TSU was forced to take a timeout at set point and Morgynne McQueen responded with a kill to draw within 24-23.
However, JSU ended the set with a kill in the middle of the TSU lineup to move ahead 2-1.

Set four saw JSU jump out to a 4-0 lead but TSU regrouped and drew to within 4-3 after Gracie Lee's kill. The match would come to a brief halt after an extended replay review which confirmed the score at 5-3.  JSU committed a service error after the replay to draw TSU within 5-4 and eventually a 7-6 deficit but JSU took advantage of several TSU errors and a kill to up the lead to 11-6. A JSU service error ended the run and TSU closed to gap to 12-9 after kills from Lacey Kusnier and Gracie Lee.

TSU committed a critical service error after a brief two-point surge and JSU responded with a kill to lead 14-9. The teams would trade points after the next few plays with JSU claiming a 15-10 lead ahead of a timeout by TSU. Once again, the timeout worked as Lauren Battle recorded a big kill followed by Lee's kill at the net to draw within 15-12. A huge defensive block by McQueen and Battle kept the momentum on the TSU side as it led to a JSU timeout and a 15-13 deficit.

Jackson Sate came of the timeout with a kill to move ahead 16-13 but McQueen would put the team on her back briefly with a big block and kill to spur a 5-1 run and a 17-all tie. Jackson State recorded a big block to move ahead 18-17 followed by a kill which forced TSU to call a timeout trailing 19-17. Once again, the timeout worked as Kusnier logged a kill but JSU took advantage of a service error by TSU to remain on top 20-18. Ava Houston's kill closed the gap to 20-19 but JSU came up with a pair of blocks to lead 22-19.

TSU fought back and forced a JSU timeout after consecutive points to trail 22-21. TSU eventually tied it at 22-all but JSU forced match point at 24-22 before a big kill cut the score to 24-23. The match would come down to the end as both teams had a long volley but JSU found a slight opening in the middle of the TSU defense to close out the match.

TSU is back in action on Friday as they'll host Alcorn State at 6 p.m. inside the H&PE Arena.