EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – SIUE completed the 2012 season Saturday with a four-set loss to Tennessee State at the Vadalabene Center.

The Cougars dropped a 25-27, 25-22, 25-20, 25-13 match to the visiting Tigers. SIUE ends its season with a 9-18 record and a 5-11 mark in the Ohio Valley Conference. Tennessee State completed its regular season with a 17-13 record and a 10-6 mark in league play.

SIUE Head Coach Leah Johnson lauded her three seniors who played in their final match for the Cougars. Setter Sammi Minton, outside hitter Brooke Smith, and outside hitter Brianne Graunke each played four seasons for the Cougars and were honored in a pregame ceremony.

"They are a group of dedicated and caring people. We talked about in the locker room that each of them have endured a lot of change in their four years, and they managed to still stand tall, proud, and represent us with first class. It takes a special person to do that. We are truly indebted to them for continuing the change in such a positive manner," said Johnson.

Saturday's finale started on the positive for the Cougars by winning the first set 27-25. Tennessee State committed nine errors in the first set and struggled to put away the Cougars.

"They had a hard time scoring like they are used to scoring against us set one and two. The result was a split after two sets," Johnson said.

Kelsey Augustine led SIUE's offense with 11 kills. Freshman Leslie Lindsey added seven.

Both teams battled through long points and craft play. Tennessee State finished with 95 digs led by 28 from Naomi Wells. The Cougars finished the match with 85 digs, including 28 from Chelsea Colclasure and 19 by Smith.

Colclasure set the school record for digs per set at 5.42 breaking the mark set by Allison Buss during the 2004 season.

SIUE hit .120 as a team Saturday with 10 blocks. Augustine, who led the Cougars with nine, finished the season with 114 blocks (1.13 per set), the most by a Cougar since moving to the NCAA Division I level.

"We had such a defensive team this year. We'll add a lot of offensive firepower next year with the addition of our new athletes," Johnson said.