NASHVILLE—UC San Diego women's volleyball defeated Tennessee State in four sets to open the TSU/Belmont Tournament on Thursday afternoon in Kean Hall Gymnasium. The Tritons (6-4) defeated the Tigers (0-8) by set scores of 25-20, 18-25, 25-17 and 28-26 in the first ever meeting between the teams.
 
Ava McInnes tallied a season-high 24 kills, adding three blocks and an ace to collect 27.5 points. McInnes also led the Tritons with 11 digs for her second double-double of the season. Lauren Brooker also finished with a double-double, recording 10 assists, 10 digs and adding four blocks. 
 
Jasmine Saran led the team with six blocks and Nevada Knowles recorded a team-high 29 assists, while Zaria Henderson finished with seven kills and nine digs.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The teams traded points to a 4-4 tie to open the match before the Tritons went on a 7-2 scoring run to build a comfortable lead. With UC San Diego leading 19-11, TSU scored four in a row out of a timeout to cut into its deficit. The Tigers fought off two set points, but the Tritons took the opening set, 25-20.

UC San Diego took the early 6-3 lead in set two before a 7-2 run put TSU in front, 10-8. With the teams knotted up 12-all, the Tigers went on another 8-1 scoring run to jump back in front and stay there for good. TSU took the second set 25-18 and evened the match at a set apiece.
 
The teams stayed close to begin the third set before UC San Diego used a 9-2 scoring run to take a commanding 15-9 lead. TSU could only pull within three points before the Tritons outscored the Tigers 8-3 to close out the set, 25-17, and retake the match lead, 3-1.
 
In the final set, Tennessee State took the early advantage, 12-7, before the Tritons battled back to pull even 14-14. TSU scored three consecutive points to jump back in front, but each time the Tigers created separation, UC San Diego answered. 
 
With TSU leading 23-20, McInnes and Brooker combined for three straight kills to pull even again, 23-all. The teams traded set points twice before the Tritons scored the final three points on two kills and an ace all by McInnes to close out the set, 28-26, and the match, 3-1.
 
TRITON TIDBITS

• Ava McInnes recorded season highs in kills (24) and points (27.5) and led the team in digs (11) for the first time this season.
  • She also recorded her second double-double of the season.
• Lauren Brooker collected her fourth double-double of the season.
• UC San Diego held the advantage in blocks (12-8) and hitting percentage (.211 to .152), while TSU had the advantage in aces (10-6) and digs (64-56).
• It was the first meeting between the two programs. 

UP NEXT
The Tritons will remain in Nashville, Tenn., for a double-header on Friday. UC San Diego will face Jackson State at 10 a.m. PT and take on Belmont at 4 p.m. PT. The match against Belmont will be broadcast on ESPN+ and live statistics will be available for both matches via UCSDTritons.com.
 
About UC San Diego Athletics
After two decades as one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program began a new era in 2020 as a member of The Big West in NCAA Division I. The 23-sport Tritons earned 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships during its time in Divisions II and III and helped guide 1,400 scholar-athletes to All-America honors. A total of 84 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 38 have earned prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships. UC San Diego scholar-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world's preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 91 percent, one of the highest rates among institutions at all divisions.