JACKSONVILLE, Ala. - The Alcorn State University volleyball program competes in its third tournament in as many weekends as the Lady Braves travel to Jacksonville, Ala. for the Jacksonville State University Tournament at Pete Mathews Coliseum Friday and Saturday.
"This is probably going to be one of the toughest weekends for us," said head coach Chelsey Lucas. "I'm looking for our first win. Going in with UL - Monroe, we're both winless, but both teams have been playing tough competition. We're continuing to progress and we have a better understanding of our roles and how to perform at our best. It's going to be a good test, but we have the ability to come out of this tournament with wins."
Junior Singryd Valadares leads the team with 42 kills, followed by freshman Fiapaipai Iosia with 37. Freshman Jasmine Chambers enters the tourney with 102 assists on the season and freshman Octavia Dixon owns four aces. Iosia leads the team with 93 digs and is the back-to-back SWAC Defensive Player of the Week. Junior Alondra Rivera Modesto is Alcorn's leading blocker with 11.
UL - Monroe | Sept. 8 | 2 p.m. | Live Stats
ULM (0-8) is in search of its first win of the season after playing stiff competition at the Arkansas Classic Aug. 25-26 and at the Chattanooga Classic Sept. 1-2. The team opened its season with losses to Utah State, Arkansas, and CSU Bakersfield. Following a home loss to Stephen F. Austin, ULM went to UTC where it fell to Murray State, the host Mocs, and Sam Houston State.
The Warhawks fell to Southern Mississippi in straight sets Tuesday. Catherine Griffith scored a team-high nine kills, followed by Jennifer McClendon with six. Tara Jenkins and Presleigh Williams tallied 15 and 12 assists respectively, while Kacey LeBlanc served three aces. Defensively, LeBlanc finished with 11 digs.
The Warhawks are 6-0 in the all-time series.Â
Jacksonville State | Sept. 8 | 7 p.m. | Live Stats
Alcorn will play JSU (5-3) for the second time in four days Friday. The Gamecocks took Tuesday's meeting at the Davey L. Whitney Complex 3-1. Allyson Zuhlke and Charis Ludtke combined for 24 kills, Jennifer Hart collected 36 assists, and Zuhlke served four aces. On defense, Ludtke finished with five blocks and Hannah Kirk registered 14 digs.
JSU now leads the all-time series 5-0.
North Carolina A&T | Sept. 9 | 2 p.m. | Live Stats
N.C. A&T (3-4) went 2-1 at the ISTAP College Cup to open the season Aug. 25-26, earning a straight-set victory over Alabama A&M and a 3-1 final against Grambling State. The Aggies competed at the Spartan-Aggie Invitational last weekend, posting a 1-2 record as they defeated Delaware State in straight sets before a pair of 3-1 losses to UNCG and Presbyterian.
Alyssa Pitt leads the team with 64 kills, followed by Courteney Pitt with 50. Edie Brewer has a team-high 152 assists and 16 aces. On defense, Samara Brown owns 66 digs and Jasmine Lindor has 30 blocks.
Saturday marks the first meeting between the two programs.
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