Fisk Volleyball Outlasts Tennessee Southern in Five-Set Thriller

PULASKI, TN - Fisk University volleyball showed its resilience Tuesday night, rallying from an early setback to defeat the University of Tennessee Southern 3-2 in a five-set thriller at the Curry Athletic Complex.

The Bulldogs dropped the opening set 25-18 but quickly answered, taking the second set 25-18 to even the match. Fisk then battled Tennessee Southern deep into the third set before the Firehawks prevailed 27-25, putting Fisk one set away from defeat.

Rather than allowing the momentum to slip away, Fisk responded with another strong performance in the fourth set. The Bulldogs built separation late and held off Tennessee Southern 25-22 to force a decisive fifth set.

Fisk controlled the final frame from the opening points, jumping out to an early advantage and never allowing the Firehawks to mount a comeback. The Bulldogs closed out the match with a 15-8 victory in the fifth set.

Several Fisk players made key contributions throughout the tightly contested match. Chennille McClellan was a consistent offensive presence, recording kills throughout the match and delivering important points during crucial stretches. Kaia Barnett also played a major role, contributing kills and service pressure while helping Fisk maintain its offensive rhythm. Shelby Chamblin added kills and a service ace, while Reagan Jones delivered important kills during the Bulldogs’ push to take control of the match.

The Bulldogs also benefited from timely defensive plays and blocks, including contributions from Morgan Walters, La'Niyah Lumpkin and Kaia Barnett. The match featured numerous momentum swings, with both teams trading runs and battling through several extended rallies.

Fisk's ability to recover after losing the third set proved decisive. The Bulldogs answered by winning the fourth set and then dominated the deciding frame to secure the 3-2 victory.

The final scores were Fisk 18-25, 25-18, 25-27, 25-22, 15-8 Tennessee Southern. The Bulldogs’ performance demonstrated their ability to remain composed in a high-pressure road match and finish strong when the outcome was on the line.

With the victory, the Bulldogs improved to 7-4 overall. Fisk returns home Friday, September 4, at 6 p.m. for its next match.