NASHVILLE – After a gauntlet of four matches in the first five against the Big Ten and the Southeastern Conferences, the Lipscomb University volleyball team secured a sweep over Tennessee State University to wrap up a season-opening, six-match home stand, Tuesday evening inside Allen Arena.
Final Score: Lipscomb 3, Tennessee State 0 (25-11, 25-18, 25-16)
Location: Allen Arena
Records: Lipscomb (2-4), Tennessee State (1-6)
HOW IT HAPPENED
Berkley Mischler got the rally going with three straight kills to get out to an early 4-1 lead. Later, despite TSU making it a 6-3 score,
Cora ter Kuile fooled the back row on back-to-back points with her service aces to help Lipscomb get out to a 10-4 lead.
The block party came to life midway through the opening set, as
Sydney Strenger was a part of three straight assisted blocks to see the Bisons lead 15-5 at the media timeout.
From there, the Bisons cruised to a set one victory of 25-11, winning an opening set for the first time this season.
Entering Tuesday's match, LUV recorded a .168 attack percentage in first sets this season. Tuesday against TSU, the Bisons recorded a season-high .381 attack percentage on 12 kills, totaling 21 attacks, and committing just four errors.
On the other end, the Bisons allowed a . 380 swing percentage in first sets. The Lady Tigers hit -.176 (3-6-17) in the first set.
In set two, both teams played competitively. However, Tennessee State took its first lead on an attack error, 10-9. The teams went back-and-forth, but it was Strenger's kill that give the Bisons the 15-14 lead at the media timeout.
From there, Lipscomb finished the set on a 10-4 run to take set two, 25-18, thanks to eight kills by
Courtney Jones in the set. Tennessee State had eight spikes as a team in the frame.
In set three, Lipscomb began to pull away thanks to five service errors in the set, two each from
Anna Claire Brown and
Allison Barrick. Ahead 24-16 on match point,
Brooklyn Fuchs put the bow on the match with her kill to complete the sweep of the Lady Tigers.
QUOTABLE
Hear from
Allison Barrick and
Brandon Rosenthal postgame.
HERD NOTES
As a team, the Bisons totaled 12 aces on the night, the most in a match this season. Additionally, the program matched its best in a three-setter, tying twice with Central Arkansas in 2021 and 2022 (ASUN Tournament).
Lipscomb totaled five blocks on the night, extending a streak of 400 straight matches with at least one block. Lipscomb has gone 14 years to the day since not having a block in a match (Sept. 9, 2011 versus Notre Dame).
The Bisons put together 42 kills on the night to the Lady Tigers' 18. The last time the Bisons held their opponent to less than 20 kills came against North Alabama during the spring 2021 season on March 3 with 18.
KEY STATISTICS
Allison Barrick padded the stat sheet with eight kills, six digs and a match-high five aces, recording the first five-match performance for the Bisons this season.
Berkley Mischler swung .579 on the night with 13 kills on 19 attempts, while
Courtney Jones totaled nine kills and two blocks.
UP NEXT
After playing six matches to start the season at home, the Bisons will head on the road for the first time during the 2025 season. Lipscomb will head west to Malibu, California to take on Pepperdine on Friday night at 8 p.m. CDT.
