CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo.| The Jackson State University volleyball team split a pair on its opening day at the Southeast Missouri State Tournament. The Tigers kicked off the tournament falling 3-2 in a thrilling five-set match against North Dakota State. JSU redeemed themselves in their second game against Arkansas Pine-Bluff evening out their record with a 3-0 victory.

GAME 1

HOW IT HAPPENED

-North Dakota State (1-0) pulled away from the Tigers early in the first set leading 16-9.

-Jackson State (0-1) wasn't able to recover as North Dakota State took the first set, 25-20

-After trailing the entire second set, JSU battled back to tie the set at 20 with a kill from Alexis Williams

-Olivia Flanagan put another one down to tie the score again at 21

-The Tigers took the 23-22 lead with a kill from Taila Gaines

-JSU sealed the second set with a 25-23 victory

-Jackson State held onto a huge lead in the third set

-A kill from Olivia Flanagan made the score 20-12

-JSU hit the gas to steal set three, 25-15

-North Dakota State pressed forward in the fourth set to tie the match at two, 25-17

-After tying the score nine times in the fifth set, North Dakota State inched away to seal the win, 16-14

INSIDE THE NUMBERS 

-The Tigers had a total of 52 digs and six blocks

-Alexis Williams led the offense with 17 kills and defensively finished with 13 digs

- Olivia Flanagan (13), Taila Gaines (12) and Jylen Whitten (10) followed in double-figure kills

-Nevaeh Bray listed two aces

-Taila Gaines, Nevaeh Bray and Jordan Jones each had two blocks

-Damassy Thompson registered 37 assists

JSU finished with a total of 64 kills, 62 assists and three aces

GAME 2

HOW IT HAPPENED

-Jackson State (1-1) quickly took a 12-4 lead over UAPB with an ace from Trinity Bryant

-JSU ended the first set with a 25-11 win

-Arkansas Pine-Bluff (0-2) opened set two with an ace to get on the board first

-JSU snuck away to a 20-17 lead with a kill from Alexis Williams

-The Tigers went on to take set two, 25-17

-UAPB tied the score at seven to open the third set, but JSU began to inch away taking a slight 13-11 lead

-JSU left the Lions in the dust to seal the set 25-18 and walk away with the 25-18 victory

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

-Alexis Williams and Olivia Flanagan led the defense with ten kills each

-Damassy Thompson recorded 15 assists

-Williams also led the defense in digs (12)

UP NEXT

The Tigers return for day two of the Southeast Missouri State Tournament as they take on the host team. First serve is set for 2 p.m. on ESPN+

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