BIRMINGHAM, Ala. | The Tuskegee University volleyball team opened conference play at the SIAC Cluster #1 Friday at the Birmingham Crossplex, splitting their first two matches of the cluster.
 
In the opener, Tuskegee fell to Kentucky State 3-1 (6-25, 17-25, 25-19, 16-25) before coming back to beat Lane in their final match of the day 3-0 (25-15, 25-10, 25-15).
 
In the opener against Kentucky State, the Tigerettes fell behind early dropping the first two games. They were able to come back and win the third game to trim the deficit to 2-1.
 
In the third game, Kentucky State jumped ahead early before Tuskegee tied the match at 7-all. From that point, the Tigerettes took control of the third game as they built five-point advantage at 15-10 on a Kentucky State service error. The lead stayed at five for most of the game, until Kentucky State trimmed it to 20-17.
 
However, Tuskegee (1-3, 0-1 SIAC) used a kill from Jamiah Breda-Nixon to push the lead back to four at 21-17. Following an attack error by Kentucky State, the Tigerettes led 22-17. Following a kill by Kentucky State, the Tigerettes used a kill from Jacqueline Wilson to take a 23-18 lead, and then were at match point following a kill by Rachael Wood. The game ended on an attack error by Kentucky State.
 
The Thorobreds were able to hold on in the fourth set to down Tuskegee.
 
Breda-Nixon led Tuskegee with 11 kills on 28 total attacks, hitting .250 for the match. Wood added eight kills on 21 total attacks, Donovan Wingfield five and Pamela Allen four in the loss. Morgan Scrivens once again hit 20-plus assists in a match as she connected on 25 assists on the 31 kills by Tuskegee. Zahria Radford turned in another 15-plus performance on the defensive end as she recorded 17 digs in the loss.
 
The Tigerettes conclude the SIAC Cluster Saturday with two matches against Lane and LeMoyne Owen.

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