GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- The Tusculum University men's volleyball team dropped its home contest against King on Tuesday night (Jan. 24). TU had won its previous two matches inside Pioneer Arena.

The Tornado (2-7) were victorious in the in-state matchup over the Pioneers (2-6) by scores of 25-18, 25-17, 22-25, 22-25, 15-12.

King had four record double-digit kills, led by Justin Sawyer's 19 strikes. Warren Davis (13), Jackson Carroll (13), and Kellan Kennedy (10) were the remaining trio. Setter AJ Drooker dished out 54 assists and was one of three Tornado to land a service ace, joined by Sawyer and Carroll. Libero Gabriel Cabanzon finished with 12 digs, as Davis rounded out his double-double with 10 scoops. Kennedy was credited with a match-high seven total blocks (two solo, five assists).

Jake Whyte and Dane Loup had season-best offensive outputs with 16 and 13 kills for Tusculum, respectively. Shaphar Grant and Colby Landry each landed 12 kills, while Grant fired on a .526 hitting percentage. Tristan Blake upped his career-high to 52 assists, tied for third-most in a five-setter in program history. Landry recorded three-straight aces in set two, with Jakob Svendsen and Blake rounded out the column. Taylor West was the lone Pioneer with digs in the double-figures (12). Grant finished with five total blocks (two solo, three assists). Landry, Blake, and Deklan Wingo all assisted in three rejections as well.

King hit .397 as a team with 65 kills and 17 errors on 121 total attempts. Tusculum averaged .200 with 56 kills, 29 errors, and 135 total attacks. The Tornado led the match in assists (60-54) and digs (42-32), while the Pioneers recorded more service aces (5-3) and total blocks (11-9).

Tusculum makes a weekend trip to West Virginia, starting with the Pioneers' first Independent Volleyball Association (IVA) match of the season. Friday night's (Jan. 27) contest at Alderson Broaddus has a start time of 7 p.m.