GRAMBLING, La. - The Alcorn State University volleyball team continues its season Friday in a 1 p.m. match at Grambling State University before traveling to the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff Saturday for a 6:30 p.m. duel.
The Lady Braves (1-10, 0-2 SWAC) head into the Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center hoping to build on superlatives from their most recent match, a three-set defeat against Southern.
Alcorn junior outside hitter Lurlethia Jones fired seven kills on an efficient .500 clip. Senior libero Carol Kiam-Assato also shined, accumulating 20 digs which matches the SWAC's most in a three-set match this season.
The Lady Braves have mustered more attack attempts than their opponents in each of the last six matches. First-year head coach Chelsey Lucas-Nicholas has dialed the team in to improving decision-making during swings.
"We can't compete just going out there and playing," said Lucas-Nicholas. "We are not a tall team, but we are very athletic. We can battle with teams. In order to beat those taller teams, we have to outsmart them."
Freshman Barbara Garrett has tallied a team-high 63 kills for Alcorn this season followed by Jones (39). Kiam-Assato's 4.5 digs per set during SWAC play marks the second highest output only behind Southern's Diamond Williams (4.6), a SWAC Preseason First Team honoree.
Grambling is 3-6 overall with a 1-3 SWAC record. Its only conference win came in a five-set affair versus Prairie View A&M where sophomore right-side hitter Kevreion Ward totaled a team-high eight kills. Ward spearheads the team's kill count this season at 66.
UAPB (0-11, 0-4 SWAC) has a slated match with Southern Friday at H.O. Clemmons Arena before battling Alcorn Saturday. The contest against the Lady Braves will mark the sixth straight home match for the Lady Lions.
UAPB freshman outside hitter Kendalle Howard has produced a team-high 75 kills this season.
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