LOUISVILLE, Ky. –
Jamir Patterson leads Kentucky State men's volleyball with a career-high of 17 kills, but the Thorobreds dropped a pair of contests to Saint Mary-of-the-Woods and Spalding University on Saturday at Columbia Gym.
The day began with a straight-sets loss to Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, but Kentucky State (3-6) showed significantly more offensive rhythm in the second match of the day.
Match 2: Spalding 3, Kentucky State 1
Patterson was the focal point of the Thorobred attack against Spalding, recording 17 kills and adding a block.
Jamal Gray provided a secondary scoring punch with nine kills and three service aces, while
Jackson Moffitt distributed 24 assists and contributed six kills of his own.
After dropping two tight sets to open the match, the Thorobreds displayed veteran poise in the third frame. In a set that featured a staggering 18 ties and three lead changes, KSU utilized a late 3-1 run—highlighted by a Patterson kill and an emphatic block from
Charles Ababio—to secure a 25-23 victory and extend the match.
The momentum carried into the fourth set as the "Breds" raced out to a commanding 5-0 lead behind the serving of Gray. However, Spalding (4-4) responded with a sustained 10-4 run to overtake KSU. Despite a late rally led by
Jacob Herman at the net, the Golden Eagles' Tye-Anthony Curtis, who finished with a match-high 20 kills, proved too much to overcome.
Match 1: Saint Mary-of-the-Woods 3, Kentucky State 0
In the afternoon opener,
Charles Ababio led KSU with 10 kills, but the Thorobreds struggled to find consistency, hitting just .169 as a team. Saint Mary-of-the-Woods utilized a balanced attack and seven total blocks to keep the Thorobreds at bay, winning 25-18, 25-19, and 25-21.
Kentucky State's defense was a bright spot across both matches, as
Jamal Gray tallied 15 total digs on the day and
Jacob Herman anchored the middle with four total blocks.
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