NEW ORLEANS - The Alcorn State University women's volleyball program won its first set of the season but dropped a 3-1 result to Loyola (La.) Monday night at Tulane's Devlin Fieldhouse.
Alcorn (0-4) took the opening set 25-21. Both sides committed a number of errors, but the Lady Braves found themselves ahead 19-15 heading into a timeout. From there, the teams went back-and-forth before Alcorn took the match point for the early lead.
Loyola (3-2) took over the match from there. After an early 1-1 tie, Allison Hartmann scored a kill to give the Wolf Pack the lead and they didn't surrender it for the remainder of the set. Loyola went up 17-12 and would finish 25-18 to knot the match at 1-1.
In Set Three, three straight aces by Hartmann powered a 9-1 run that put Loyola in control 15-6. Multiple kills by the Wolf Pack and several Alcorn errors down the stretch meant the set would go to Loyola 25-14.
The Wolf Pack led 16-9 in the decisive set, but Alcorn fought back to tie the score at 18-18, 20-20, and 21-21. Junior Singryd Valadares registered a kill to give the Lady Braves a 22-21 advantage, but three straight points by Malea Howie allowed Loyola to claim the set and the match.
"We made immature mistakes tonight," said head coach Chelsey Nicholas. "We have to keep learning and trust in the process. There were some girls that stood out, but it's not enough. We need our entire roster to contribute for us to be successful."
Valadares finished the night with a team-high 12 kills. The junior college transfer added an ace with a dig and a solo block. Freshman Daharri Thompkins and junior Alondra Rivera Modesto followed with seven kills each, while freshmen Octavia Dixon and Fiapaipai Iosia both recorded five kills. Dixon and freshman Jasmine Chambers turned in aces, with Chambers earning 24 assists.
On defense, freshman Kaylyn Latin and Iosia made 13 and 12 digs respectively. Rivera Modesto tallied four blocks, the most by a Lady Brave this season.
Alcorn plays its home opener this Wednesday as the Lady Braves host Northwestern State in a 5 p.m. meeting. The Lady Demons are also in search of their first win of the year and are coming off a straight-set loss to Seton Hall at the Oklahoma University Nike Invitational last Saturday. Wednesday marks the fifth meeting between the two programs, with Northwestern State holding a 4-0 record in the all-time series.
Additionally, the Lady Braves will be having a School Supply Giveaway during the match. Students in attendance can show their IDs and get their pick of school supply items, with excess supplies being donated to local schools.
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