FORT VALLEY, GA | The Morehouse Maroon Tigers capped their season with a thrilling five-set comeback win over LeMoyne-Owen in the SIAC Men's Volleyball Tournament consolation game Wednesday morning at the Health and Physical Education Complex in Fort Valley. Battling from a two-set deficit, the Maroon Tigers stormed back to take the final three sets and claim a 3-2 (21-25, 18-25, 25-20, 26-24, 15-12) victory, earning fifth place in the conference tournament.
After dropping the first two sets, Morehouse regrouped behind the dominance of senior outside hitter
Aidan Pullian, who delivered a match-high 27 kills on an outstanding .575 hitting percentage, including the final kill of the fifth set to seal the win.
Set One: LeMoyne-Owen 25, Morehouse 21
Morehouse opened the match with strong energy, taking early control behind kills from
Charles Parrish Jr. and
Jamar Shackleford Jr., and riding the momentum of back-to-back service aces from
Aidan Pullian to grab a 6-4 lead. The Maroon Tigers played with confidence, trading points with LeMoyne-Owen in a set that featured nine ties and five lead changes.
Shackleford Jr. kept the offense moving with crisp sets, while Pullian and
Myles Tucker provided timely attacks to keep the score close. However, a series of errors in serve reception and a few untimely attack miscues allowed the Magicians to gain a slim edge midway through the set. Still, the Maroon Tigers fought back, pulling within one at 21-20 after a block by
Johnathan Pitts and a kill from Pullian.
Despite the late push, Morehouse couldn't quite complete the comeback, as LeMoyne-Owen capitalized on a few final errors and closed out the set 25-21. The Maroon Tigers showed solid offensive flow but were undone by a few critical miscues in crunch time.
Set Two: LeMoyne-Owen 25, Morehouse 18
Morehouse opened the match with strong energy, taking early control behind kills from Charles Parrish Jr. and Jamar Shackleford Jr., and riding the momentum of back-to-back service aces from Aidan Pullian to grab a 6-4 lead. The Maroon Tigers played with confidence, trading points with LeMoyne-Owen in a set that featured nine ties and five lead changes.
Shackleford Jr. kept the offense moving with crisp sets, while Pullian and Myles Tucker provided timely attacks to keep the score close. However, a series of errors in serve reception and a few untimely attack miscues allowed the Magicians to gain a slim edge midway through the set. Still, the Maroon Tigers fought back, pulling within one at 21-20 after a block by Johnathan Pitts and a kill from Pullian.
Despite the late push, Morehouse couldn't quite complete the comeback, as LeMoyne-Owen capitalized on a few final errors and closed out the set 25-21. The Maroon Tigers showed solid offensive flow but were undone by a few critical miscues in crunch time.
Set Three: Morehouse 25, LeMoyne-Owen 20
With their backs against the wall, the Maroon Tigers came out with renewed determination in the third set. Jamar Shackleford Jr. orchestrated the offense with poise, delivering consistent sets to Aidan Pullian, who powered the attack with a series of emphatic kills. Pullian's swing was nearly unstoppable, and his energy helped Morehouse seize an early lead.
Defensively, the Tigers stepped up at the net with Johnathan Pitts and Charles Parrish Jr. combining for key blocks that frustrated LeMoyne-Owen's hitters. After building a small cushion, Morehouse weathered a mid-set rally from the Magicians and responded with a composed 4-1 run that included a service ace from Myles Tucker and a kill by Pitts.
LeMoyne-Owen tried to claw back late, but unforced errors on their side and one final kill from Pullian sealed the set for Morehouse, 25-20. The Tigers showed resilience and balance, cutting the Magicians' lead to 2-1 and shifting the momentum squarely in their favor.
Set Four: Morehouse 26, LeMoyne-Owen 24
In a must-win fourth set, the Maroon Tigers showed heart and composure under pressure, surviving a back-and-forth battle that featured nine ties and multiple lead changes. Aidan Pullian continued his offensive dominance, hammering home multiple kills early and late in the set off assists from senior setter Jamar Shackleford Jr., who kept the offense flowing with smart distribution.
Myles Tucker and Charles Parrish Jr. added timely kills to keep Morehouse in rhythm, while the back row defense led by Tucker and Noah White came up with key digs to extend rallies. Despite their effort, the Tigers found themselves tied 22-22 after a late push from the Magicians.
With the set hanging in the balance, Shackleford Jr. delivered a clutch service ace to put Morehouse ahead 24-22, but LeMoyne-Owen responded to tie it again at 24. Refusing to be denied, Pullian came through with a pair of kills—including the set-winner—to lift the Tigers to a thrilling 26-24 win and force a decisive fifth set. The momentum had fully shifted, and Morehouse looked poised to complete the comeback.
Set Five: Morehouse 15, LeMoyne-Owen 12
With everything on the line, the Maroon Tigers delivered in the clutch, completing their comeback with a gritty performance in the decisive fifth set. Noah White sparked the early momentum with back-to-back service aces, and Aidan Pullian continued his incredible day with a kill that gave Morehouse an 8-4 lead at the changeover.
LeMoyne-Owen made a late push, but Morehouse stayed composed. Jamar Shackleford Jr. kept the offense steady, setting up Pullian and Charles Parrish Jr. for critical kills down the stretch. After the Magicians closed to within two, Pullian struck once more with a perfectly timed kill to push the lead to 14-12.
On match point, Pullian fittingly delivered his 27th kill of the match—off another assist from Shackleford Jr.—to seal the 15-12 win and complete the comeback. The Maroon Tigers erupted in celebration, having fought back from a 0-2 deficit to claim a 3-2 victory and finish 5th in the SIAC Tournament with heart, resilience, and senior leadership at the forefront
Wrapping Up The Season
With the 3-2 victory over LeMoyne-Owen, the Morehouse Maroon Tigers closed out their 2025 season on a high note, showcasing the growth, determination, and competitive spirit that defined their campaign. After dropping the first two sets in the 5th-place consolation match, the Tigers rallied to win three straight, capping their season with a statement performance that reflected their fight and resilience.
Led by the powerful offensive output of Aidan Pullian, the steady leadership of Jamar Shackleford Jr., and strong defensive efforts from Myles Tucker and Charles Parrish Jr., Morehouse finished the season with a 5-13 overall record, including a 4-8 mark in SIAC play. Though the season had its share of challenges, the Tigers notched key wins over LeMoyne-Owen—three times in a span of five days. Under Head Coach Deshaun Blake's guidance, the Maroon Tigers took several opponents to the wire, laying a foundation for future success.
The victory also marked a fitting send-off for seniors Shackleford, Pullian, and Kristopher Woods, who were honored earlier in the week on Senior Day. As the program continues to build, this final win serves as a reminder of the potential and pride within Morehouse Volleyball—a program still in its early stages, but rich with promise. For up-to-date athletic information on the Maroon Tigers, follow them on social media or online at www.morehouseathletics.com.
