HOUSTON, Texas. - The Alcorn State University volleyball program fell in five matches to kick off conference play at the first SWAC Round-Up this weekend, hosted by Texas Southern.
Freshman Daharri Thomkins finished the weekend with a team-high 23 kills, followed by junior Singryd Valadares with 21, junior Alondra Rivera Modesto with 20, and freshman Fiapaipai Iosia with 19. Freshman Jasmine Chambers added 61 assists, while Iosia and senior Brittney Dumas each served four aces. Defensively, Iosia recorded 56 digs and freshman Joeli Warren-Smith made nine blocks.
Texas Southern | L, 0-3 (19-25, 14-25, 18-25)
Rivera Modesto finished with seven kills, followed by freshman Octavia Dixon and Iosia with four each. Chambers recorded a 10-assist, 11-dig double-double and freshman Kaylyn Latin had 15 digs.
The Lady Tigers broke open an 18-18 tie in set one with a 7-1 run to claim the first match point. The hosts took set two courtesy of a 6-0 run but trailed Alcorn 12-7 early in set three. TSU would reclaim the lead, though, and an 8-1 run allowed the Lady Tigers to claim the match.
Southern | L, 0-3 (11-25, 24-26, 6-25)
Warren-Smith scored five kills, Chambers contributed 11 assists, and freshman Omone Davies served a pair of aces. On defense, Warren-Smith and Valadares both earned a block assist while freshman Mae Lewis and Iosia made 13 and 10 digs respectively.
After the Lady Jaguars took the opening set, Alcorn jumped out to a 20-12 lead in set two. Southern then scored eight unanswered to knot the set at 20-20. After the Lady Braves made it 24-21, the Lady Jaguars used a 5-0 run to go up 2-0. In the final set, Southern took a 14-4 lead and capped off the set with 11-straight points.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff | L, 0-3 (13-25, 21-25, 14-25)
In the Lady Braves' first match on Saturday, Thompkins paced the Alcorn attack with eight kills. Warren-Smith chipped in seven and Iosia added six. Chambers earned 19 assists with three blocks, Latin served an ace, and Iosia recorded 13 digs.
The Lady Lions led from start to finish, but Alcorn put up a fight in set two. Down 21-15, the Lady Braves closed the gap with a 5-0 run highlighted by three-straight kills by Iosia. After the teams traded points, three consecutive Alcorn errors gave UAPB the set.
Grambling State | L, 0-3 (27-29, 14-25, 16-25)
Alcorn was led by Thompkins' eight kills, followed by Rivera Modesto with seven and Iosia with six. Dumas tied her season high with 19 assists and Iosia served a pair of aces. Freshman Ashley Samuel earned two blocks and Latin made 11 digs.
The Lady Braves scored the first six points in set one and went up 19-10. The Lady Tigers came out of a time determined, though, and were able to cut the lead to 22-21 on a 9-2 run. Alcorn looked to claim the set point at 24-21, but Grambling tied the score at 24-24. The teams then traded points before a Grambling kill and back-to-back errors gave the Lady Tigers the 1-0 match lead. GSU controlled the remainder of the match.
Prairie View A&M | L, 1-3 (19-25, 27-25, 18-25, 10-25)
On Sunday, Valadares scored six kills and Chambers added five with 13 assists. Dumas and freshman Alicia Johnson each served three aces. Warren-Smith set a season high with six blocks and totaled 17 digs.
The Lady Braves kept it close in set one, but the Lady Panthers scored six unanswered late. In set two, Alcorn knotted the score at 22-22 and the teams proceeded to trade points. Down 25-24, the Lady Braves benefited from three straight PVAMU errors. The Lady Panthers would take the next two sets, however, to secure the win.
Alcorn is on the road this week, beginning with a stop in Hattiesburg, Miss. for a 6 p.m. match at William Carey. The team then heads to Natchitoches, La. for a 1 p.m. contest Thursday at Northwestern State.
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