LORMAN, Miss. - The Alcorn State University volleyball program opens the week with a 6 p.m. home match against Mississippi Valley State Monday night, then hosts Tougaloo College and Mississippi College in a Tri-Match on Wednesday.
"We're all excited about this week," said head coach Chelsey Lucas. "We have been doing great in practice and I'm hoping we bring that energy and level of play to the court."
Alcorn is led offensively by junior Singryd Valadares' 131 kills and freshman Fiapaipai Iosia's 108 kills. Freshman Jasmine Chambers owns 345 assists, while Iosia and freshman Octavia Dixon have served 18 and 17 aces respectively. On defense, Iosia owns a team-high 309 digs and Valadares and junior Alondra Rivera Modesto have combined for 49 blocks.
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Mississippi Valley State | Oct. 9 | 6 p.m.
The Devilettes (3-19, 1-6) dropped a pair of matches to Alabama State and Alabama A&M to start last week and are coming off a loss to Arkansas-Monticello last Wednesday. Kalin Barnes has 157 kills and Taylor Selfridge has 132 to pace the MVSU attack. Jaime Polk is the primary setter with 368 assists. Jessica Bell has made 196 digs and Joilyn Azore has recorded 22 blocks to anchor the defense.
Alcorn leads the all-time series 45-32. Last season, the Lady Braves took the first meeting 3-0 on Oct. 7. In the second meeting on Nov. 7, the Devilettes fought back from a 2-0 hole to claim the match in five sets.
Monday's game marks Brave Night as well as Faculty Appreciation Night for Alcorn. Fans are encouraged to wear purple and gold to the match, while the Lady Braves will recognize faculty and staff that have made an impact on the team during their time at Alcorn.
Tougaloo College | Oct. 11 | 2 p.m.
The Lady Bulldogs (13-7) have won three straight and grinded out a 3-2 victory at Talladega College on Saturday. Megan Besecker has 168 kills to lead the offense, followed closely by Carolyne Edwards with 161. Setter Alexandra Jwainat has contributed 303 assists, with Kayla Cole and Obadiah Montgomery leading the defense with 337 digs and 77 blocks.
Wednesday marks just the eighth meeting between the teams, with Alcorn owning a 6-1 advantage in the series. The Lady Bulldogs took the last meeting 3-2 on Oct. 3, 2015.
Mississippi College | Oct. 11 | 6 p.m.
The Lady Choctaws (8-10) snapped a five-match skid Saturday with a 3-1 win at home over Montevallo. Kayana Mitchell and Sydney Chandler pace the offense with 140 kills and 329 assists. Defensively, Madison Kimes has a team-high 151 digs and Mitchell has recorded 55 blocks.
MC and Alcorn have only met four times, with the Lady Choctaws leading 3-1 in the series. The teams last squared off Sep. 3, 2015, with MC prevailing 3-1.
The Tri-Match on Wednesday marks Alcorn's Pink Game. The gym will be decorated in pink and the Lady Braves will play for victims and survivors of breast cancer.
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