JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Despite jumping out to a dominant 2-0 lead, Kentucky State men's volleyball could not hold off a late surge from Edward Waters as the Tigers took the match 3-2 in five sets in the opening round of the SIAC Men's Volleyball Championship. 
 
Charles Ababio led the Kentucky State offense with a match-high of 21 kills while adding 12 digs to record a double-double. Jackson Moffitt orchestrated the attack with 32 assists and contributed 11 digs and two services aces. On the defensive end, Senior Jamal Gray anchored the back row with a team-high 15 digs. 
 
Other contributors for the Thorobreds included Jamir Patterson, who tallied nine kills and nine digs, and Ryker Noteboom, who added six kills and nine digs. Jeramiah Miko Wilmond led the team at the net with three block assists.
 
The Thorobreds took complete control early, in the opening set, the Thorobreds battled through seven ties and three lead changes to secure a 26-24 set win. 
 
Kentucky State continued their momentum into the second set, hitting .478 as a team with 15 kills to take the set 25-19 and establish a commanding 2-0 match advantage.
 
Things shifted in the third set as Edward Waters tightened their defense, holding Kentucky State to a .029 hitting percentage to take the set 25-21. The Tigers tied the match at 2-2, taking the fourth set 25-10 and forcing the match to fifth set. 
 
In the final frame, the Tigers' efficiency proved to be the difference. Edward Waters had a hitting percentage of .261with 10 kills, while the Thorobreds managed only two kills in the set. Edward Waters went on to take the final set 15-10 to complete the reverse sweep and advance to the semifinals of the tournament. 
 
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