Lady Senators win five-set thriller over Chattanooga State

CHATTANOOGA, TN – It didn't come easy, but Walters State exhibited resilience on Thursday night and picked up a 3-2 (25-21, 13-25, 25-22, 24-26, 15-13) win over Chattanooga State. 

With the victory, the Lady Senators improved to 12-13 overall and 6-4 in TCCAA play. 

The opening set started strong for Walters State, scoring the first three points. The Lady Senators continued to lead from there, getting things to 7-4 and then to 11-6. The largest lead for Walters State came at 14-8, but Chattanooga State scored the next six points to tie the set up. 

Walters State got back on track and took a 16-14 lead following back-to-back blocks from Davanie Tarleton. From there, the Lady Senators kept a two-point lead before scoring three of the final four points to close the set out at 25-21. 

In set two, Walters State got up 4-2 after back-to-back blocks by Veda Barton. The two teams were tied at five, six, seven, eight, nine, 10 and 11 later in the set, but Chattanooga State scored 14 of the final 16 points to even the match up. 

Set three was again close throughout. At 9-9, the Lady Senators got a kill from Madison Haynie and an ace and a kill from Annah Cate Hyatt to create some separation. With the lead back down to one at 15-14, Walters State again rallied with three straight points. Veda Barton, Isabelle Brickey and Hyatt all had kills to give the Lady Senators an 18-14 lead. 

The Lady Senators continued to keep the momentum going in the set and led 24-18 following back-to-back kills from Barton. After Chattanooga State got close with four straight points, the Lady Senators finally converted on set point to take it 25-22. 

Chattanooga led for much of the fourth set but never could get separation, allowing the Lady Senators to stay close. Walters State finally took the lead in the set at 14-13 on an ace by Barton and then led 19-18 following a block from Barton. The Lady Senators stayed in front and had set point at 24-22, however, Chattanooga State rallied off four straight points to take the set. 

In the deciding fifth set, Chattanooga State got up 6-3 early. Walters State continued to keep it close thanks to a block by Tarleton and a kill from Brickey. Trailing 11-9, the Lady Senators tied the set up on an attacking error by Chattanooga State and a kill by Barton. After the Lady Tigers took the lead back at 12-11, Barton had yet another kill to tie things up. Chattanooga State took one final lead at 13-12, but Barton was there again with a kill to tie it at 13. 

Finally, the Lady Senators took the lead on a Brickey kill and, following a timeout from Chattanooga State, converted on match point to win the set and match at 15-13. 

Up Next:

Walters State will stay in TCCAA play on Saturday, traveling to Pellissippi State. The match is set to start at 2 pm ET.