LORMAN, Miss. - The Alcorn State University women's volleyball program fell to Northwestern State 3-0Â in the team's home opener Wednesday night at the Davey L. Whitney Complex.
NSU (1-3) took off early in the opening set, capitalizing off of multiple errors to take a 9-1 lead. After a Northwestern service error and a kill by freshman Daharri Thompkins made it 10-3, the Lady Demons scored six unanswered, highlighted by four kills. Alcorn (0-5) wasn't able to catch the visitors, who closed the set with a 5-0 run to take the early 1-0 lead.
In set two, junior Singryd Valadares gave Alcorn its first lead 2-1, but NSU responded with five straight points. Kills by Valadares and Thompkins, coupled with an NSU attack error, allowed the Lady Braves to pull within 7-5. However, it wouldn't be enough as the Lady Demons used three 4-0 runs to take a 2-0 advantage.
Alcorn took a 2-1 lead in the final set as freshman Jasmine Chambers served up an ace. NSU wrestled back the lead 4-2, but the Lady Braves battled back to knot the set at 6-6 as freshman Fiapaipai Iosia assisted Valadares to cap off a 3-0 run. Following another tie at 7-7, the visitors took over with a 9-1 run. Alcorn got to within 20-12, but NSU claimed the set and the match with five unanswered.
Thompkins and Valadares led Alcorn on offense with five and four kills respectively. Chambers finished with eight assists and an ace, while senior Brittney Dumas collected six assists.
Iosia, the SWAC Defensive Player of the Week, led the team with 10 digs, followed by freshman Kaylyn Latin with six. Junior Alondra Rivera Modesto, Valadares, and freshman Kayla Anderson each recorded a pair of blocks.
The Lady Braves travel to Nashville, Tenn. to compete in the Tennessee State Tournament, starting with a noon matchup on Friday against the host Lady Tigers. The team will then play Florida International later that day at 4 p.m. and conclude the tourney with a noon contest Saturday against New Orleans.
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