With a roster that features all freshmen, the Miles volleyball team has experienced its share of growing pains this season.

But grinding through a schedule that began with 17 straight defeats finally bore fruit Wednesday night at Knox-Windham Gymnasium. The Lady Bears fought back from two sets down to defeat Tuskegee in five sets (16-25, 18-25, 25-22, 26-24, 15-11) for their first win of the season. It gave Miles (1-17, 1-11) its first victory since October 2019 against Oakwood, the first win against a Division II opponent since September 26, 2019 against Savannah State, and its first win over Tuskegee since November 2017 - when the Golden Tigerettes (3-9, 3-7) similarly blew a two-set lead.

Miles dominated at the net, registering 17 blocks. Shadiya Wilson had seven solo blocks and Tamella Taylor added five solos while Tuskegee had a staggering 49 attack errors to aid the Lady Bears effort. Still, after TU took the first two sets and opened a 16-11 lead in the third, it looked as if the Lady Bears would have to wait another to get in the win column.

But Miles would battle back and with the score tied at 21, a kill from Janae Minor, a service ace by Taylor and a kill by Wilson pushed the team to a 25-22 win. Set four saw Miles trail 20-16 but it was able to take the lead before finding itself in a tie at 24. A kill by Jabreia Williams (12 digs, seven assists) and block by Taylor forced a fifth set, just the second time this season the Lady Bears had even advanced to a deciding game.

Four consecutive errors by Tuskegee helped the Lady Bears to a 6-2 advantage in the fifth set. Every time the Golden Tigerettes would get close, an attack error would give Miles some breathing room. But to close it out, Wilson had the finishing swings as Miles won the final set 15-11.

Erin Jackson (19 kills, 13 digs), Jazmine Green (18 digs), Kiana Wilcher (54 assists), and Kayla Garmon (13 kills) paced Tuskegee. Wilson had a big performance for Miles, with 18 kills, 11 digs, and nine blocks. Aaliyah Sanders (18 assists, 12 digs, three blocks) and Taylor (eight kills, 11 digs, seven blocks) were also big contributors for the Lady Bears, which host Talladega on Tuesday. First serve is set for 5 p.m.