HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Going up against the top two teams in the SWAC standings, the Alcorn State University volleyball program will travel to Alabama A&M at 4 p.m. Sunday at T.M. Elmore Gym, and Alabama State at 7 p.m. Monday at Lockhart Gym.
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The Lady Braves (8-17, 4-10 SWAC) are fighting to get into the top-eight in the standings to qualify for the 2018 SWAC Championships. They currently sit in ninth and are one game behind both Grambling State and Prairie View A&M with 5-9 records.
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It will be a big test for Alcorn having to go up against an undefeated AAMU (18-12, 14-0 SWAC) squad and the second-place Hornets (15-17, 12-2 SWAC). The Lady Braves fell to both teams 3-0 earlier this year at home.
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"We've played these two teams already this year and we know the level of competition. With that being said, we had our chances in both of those matches but just couldn't execute when we needed to the most. It's been a growing process for us this year and we just have to be more consistent," said Alcorn head coach
Chelsey Lucas.
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The Lady Braves are looking to bounce back from a tough SWAC Round-Up this past weekend where they played five close matches but could only pull out one. They beat Texas Southern 3-2, but dropped two other five-setters and a couple four-setters.
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Alcorn has been one of the top serving teams in the country. The Lady Braves lead the nation in total service aces with 188 and are third in aces per set with 2.02. Individually, sophomore
Fiapaipai Iosia is second in America in total aces with 65 and third in aces per set with 0.71.
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Iosia is also the team leader in digs with 295/3.21 per set. Sophomore
Kaylyn Latin has also been a staple to the back line with 194 digs/2.23 per set.
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Offensively, freshman
Sydney Joseph ranks fourth in the SWAC with 2.59 kills per set. She hits for a .191 average, while senior
Alondra Rivera Modesto hits for a .201 clip with 2.53 kills per frame.
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AAMU leads the SWAC in both hitting percentage (.220) and assists (10.98 a/s). Maya Evans ranks first in the league in hitting percentage with a .395 mark, while Terra Brooks is second in kills with 2.74 per set.
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Not only are the Bulldogs undefeated, but 10 of their 14 wins have come in straight sets, and none have gone to five sets.
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ASU is coming off a 5-0 weekend at the SWAC Round-Up. Its only conference losses this year came to AAMU and a five-setter against Grambling State. Kori Kutsch has been the team's quarterback, averaging 8.12 assists per set. Candace Martin is ASU's top hitter with a .277 percentage.
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Alcorn has two home matches left on the schedule. It will host Jackson State on Thursday, Nov. 1 at 6 p.m. and Mississippi Valley State on Monday, Nov. 5 at 6 p.m. on Senior Day.
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