LORMAN, Miss. – The Alcorn State University volleyball program recorded a SWAC-high 16 service aces against the University of Arkansas Pine-Bluff despite dropping matches to the Lady Lions and Grambling State University Friday and Saturday, respectively, inside the Davey L. Whitney Complex.
The Lady Braves are now 2-18 overall and 1-10 in SWAC play. Alcorn's 16 aces were helped by three each from seniors
Leticia Gonzales,
Carol Kiam-Assato and
Sydney Mellom and junior
Brittney Dumas. Junior
Ariel Scott and freshman
Barbara Garrett added two each.
"Starting with Arkansas-Pine Bluff, I thought the energy was great. I thought we just made a few more errors than they did. What actually kept us in the game was our aggresive serving," said head coach
Chelsey Lucas-Nicholas. "We were making sure we were seving to their main hitters and did that last night. We just didn't do it consistently. That's been our battle all year - being consistent. As for today, we came in flat. The energy was totally opposite from yesterday. I just think we need to learn how to close matches. Once we learn how to be consistent and close, we will be great."
UAPB 3, Alcorn 1
The Lady Braves had four attackers record seven-plus kills in a four-set defeat (25-18, 17-25, 25-20, 27-25) to UAPB Friday night.
Junior
Brittney Dumas led the way with nine kills. Freshman
Sarah Pierre posted a career-high eight kills on an impressive .300 clip. Junior
Heather Jackson and freshman
Barbara Garrett added seven.
The first set came to a nine-point tie after an ace from junior
Ariel Scott. The Lady Lions (5-14, 5-7 SWAC) scored the next three points on two Alcorn errors and a Kendalle Howard kill. UAPB never gave up the lead from that point as the Lady Braves ended the first set with just as many attacking errors as kills (8).
Alcorn fell behind 6-2 early in the second frame before scoring five straight capped by a Garrett ace to take a 7-6 advantage.
The turning point came later in the stanza when Garrett smashed a kill to tie the set at 12. Another Garrett kill followed by a score from Jackson and Lady Lions attacking error gave the Lady Braves a 15-12 edge.
Alcorn outscored the UAPB 10-5 the remainder of the set as Dumas totaled four kills and Garrett three. The Lady Braves attacked at a .265 mark.
Jackson posted four kills in the fourth set, but Alcorn fell 25-20. The game was tied at 17 before the Lady Lions took the next two points on a Scott service error and setter dump from Britney Sahlmann.
The Lady Braves scored on a Howard attack error to come within one at 19-18. UAPB, however, ripped off five straight on a Howard kill and four Alcorn attacking errors. Jackson then found an open spot on the court before senior setter
Sydney Mellom's serve went long, allowing the Lady Lions to go ahead 2-1.
The fourth set was a nail biter as the Lady Braves erased a 23-20 deficit only to trade the next four points before being downed by back-to-back UAPB kills. Pierre secured four kills in five attempts.
Sahlmann paced UAPB with 28 assists, nine digs and six kills.
Grambling 3, Alcorn 0
Senior setter
Sydney Mellom neared a double-double with 14 assists and seven digs as the Lady Braves fell in straight sets (25-20, 25-21, 27-25) to the Lady Tigers Saturday morning.
The first set featured 12 ties and four lead changes. Grambling took control when it scored four straight at a 17-point standstill behind two kills and an assisted block from Kevreion Ward. Alcorn was unable to regain the lead despite three kills each from Dumas and Garrett.
The Lady Braves were downed again late in the second stanza. After a 19-19 tie, Ward fired a kill then served an ace to put the Lady Tigers ahead 21-19. The two teams traded points before Grambling stole the second set with three consecutive points. Jackson found her rhythm, scoring four kills in the frame.
Alcorn squandered a 5-0 lead in the deciding set. Still holding a 15-11 advantage, the Lady Tigers went on a 7-0 run to take an 18-15 lead. The Lady Braves kept fighting and tied the set at 22, 23, 24 and 25. Grambling closed out the match on back-to-back kills from Ward and Javienna Jones.
Dumas and Jackson spearheaded Alcorn with eight and seven kills, respectively. Ward struck for a match-high 14.
The Lady Braves return to action Friday in a 6:30 p.m. tilt at Jackson State.
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