NASHVILLE, Tenn., - SIUE volleyball will enter next week's Ohio Valley Conference Tournament on the upswing.

The Cougars lost the first set and then surged in the next three sets for a 17-25, 25-14, 25-19, 30-28 victory over the Tigers at Kean Hall.

SIUE evened its conference record at 8-8 and is 12-17 overall as it prepares for the University's OVC Tournament in school history. The Cougars will learn who their first-round opponent is later today after all of the league's games have been completed.

"Our goal is to still keep peaking," said SIUE Head Coach Leah Johnson. "I think we've been playing better and better. We're playing our best volleyball this time of year."

Freshman Alicia Streetar led all players with 14 kills. She was among four players with double figures in kills. Cori Harris and Kristen Torre each finished with 13 kills. Taylor Held added 10.

The Cougars started slow as Tennessee State, 10-17 overall and 6-10, got off to a strong start by hitting .500 in the opening set. Taylor Swayzer led four TSU players in double figures kills with 13.

SIUE took that adversity and picked up their game in set two. The Cougars raced out to a 14-2 lead in the set. Three services aces between Kasey Schumacher and Chelsea Colclasure aided the Cougars.

Johnson said Tennessee State targeted Harris on defense. She would end up leading all players with 18 digs.

"After the first set, we stepped up our game defensively which helps," admitted Johnson.

Freshman Mallory Mangun finished with 49 assists and completed the OVC season by 11.02 assists per set. Mangun is among the top three setters in the league in that statistical category.

SIUE hit .250 for the match while Tennessee State hit .189.

"Any time you win you build confidence," added Johnson.