Lady Braves Drop Road Swing at AAMU, ASU

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Alcorn State University volleyball program ended on the short end of a pair of 3-0 decisions on the road at Alabama A&M on Sunday at T.M. Elmore Gym, and Alabama State on Monday at Lockhart Gym.
 
Alcorn (8-19, 4-12 SWAC) got off to a slow start in both matches before putting up a fight in the second and third. AAMU (19-12, 15-0 SWAC) finished on top 25-9, 25-14, 25-18, while the scores at ASU (17-17, 14-2 SWAC) were 25-16, 25-23, 25-23.
 
The Bulldogs and the Hornets are the top-two teams in the SWAC standings.

"We're battling, but we continue to drop really close sets," said Alcorn head coach Chelsey Lucas. "We're going through growing pains right now with a young team, but as we became more mature and more experienced these close ones will start going our way. Talent-wise, there are things we need to improve on, but we're right there competing with the teams at the top of the league." 

The Lady Braves will close out the regular season with a pair of home matches. They'll host Jackson State at 6 p.m. Thursday and Mississippi Valley State at 6 p.m. Monday.
 
Match 1: AAMU 3, Alcorn 0
The Lady Braves ran into a hot-hitting AAMU squad as the Bulldogs posted a .352 hitting percentage including a .577 mark in the first set.
 
Alcorn was led by sophomore Mae Lewis who put away eight kills and sophomore Kaylyn Latin who dug up 14 digs. The Lady Braves saw two setters reach double-figures as junior Barbara Cabo distributed 12 assists, while freshman Jurnee Calhoun dished out 10.
 
Maya Evans turned in a huge night for AAMU with 11 kills on 13 attacks for an .846 percentage. Alana Cox notched 10 kills and a .412 mark, and Jaelin Gant neared a double-double with nine kills and 10 assists.
 
The most competitive set was the third as Alcorn grabbed an early 5-1 lead on the serve of Latin. It included a kill and block by sophomore Daharri Thompkins. Though, the Bulldogs responded with an 8-0 run to leap in front 9-5. A kill by sophomore Ashley Samuel kept the Lady Braves within four at 14-10, and a spike by Thompkins had them trailing 18-14. AAMU was able to pull away late, and extended its edge to 24-17 on an Alcorn error. The match ended on another attack error by the Lady Braves.
 
Match 2: Alabama State 3, Alcorn 0
Another slow start put Alcorn in an early hole, but the Lady Braves punched back with a pair of nail-biting sets that just didn't end their way.
 
Freshman Sydney Joseph recorded a match-high 12 kills with a .250 percentage. Sophomore Fiapaipai Iosia anchored the back line with 15 digs. Alcorn again split time between two setters as Calhoun finished with 14 assists and Cabo 12.
 
Krysta Medearis paced the Hornets offense with 12 kills. Kori Kutsch tallied a big double-double of 28 assists and 11 digs.

After a tough first set, the Hornets jumped out to an 11-6 lead in the second before Alcorn started to get-going. A 6-1 spurt, sparked by a kill by Lewis, evened the score at 12. Still tied at 19, the teams went point-for-point as a kill by Lewis kept it 21-21. The Lady Braves took a 22-21 advantage after an attack by Joseph. Though, the Hornets grabbed the next four points, and ended it on a block.
 
Alcorn fell behind early again in the third, 10-4 before making another push. A kill by freshman Simone Barren started a modest 3-0 run, and an ASU error had the Lady Braves down just 13-11. Alcorn came back to tie it 16-16 after a kill by senior Alondra Rivera Modesto and an ace by Joseph. Still even 18-18, the Hornets went back up with three straight points including a pair of kills. One last run by Alcorn tied it again 23-23 on Lewis' serve, but after the Hornets called timeout, they won the last two points on a kill by Medearis and an Alcorn ball-handling error.
 
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