JACKSON, Miss. – Down two sets, the Alcorn State University volleyball program was able to extend the match to a fourth, but Jackson State was able to prevail 3-1 (28-26, 25-13, 23-25, 25-20) Thursday evening at TB Ellis Gym.
Sophomores
Daharri Thompkins and
Mae Lewis led the way with 12 kills apiece. Junior
Wanya Morris also had a solid outing with nine kills and a .238 hitting percentage.
Junior Barbara Cabo aided the attack with 21 assists.
Alcorn (5-12, 3-5 SWAC) out-blocked JSU (7-15, 5-1 SWAC) 10-6 including four from freshman
Simone Barren.
"We fought tonight but we still have to find a way to be more consistent. The effort was there but we have to get over giving up that one free set. It's a matter of being able to execute for an entire match and I expect us to respond against MVSU," said Alcorn head coach
Chelsey Lucas.
The Lady Braves were without their leading attacker after an injury to freshman
Sydney Joseph on Monday against Alabama State.
A very tight first set saw JSU out ahead 16-12. Alcorn chipped back in it and cut the deficit to 20-19 after a kill by Cabo. However, the Tigers regained control and looked to secure the set after taking a 24-21 edge. The Lady Braves fought off three set points and tied it 24-24 on the serve of sophomore
Fiapaipai Iosia. The teams then exchanged points to a 26-26 tie when JSU was able to tally a pair of kills to grab the set 28-26 despite Alcorn hitting for a .379 percentage in the frame.
After JSU took the second set 25-13, the Lady Braves were able to regroup at the intermission and came out strong in the third. Alcorn took an early 10-5 lead and extended it to 14-7 after a ball handling error. However, an 8-1 JSU run even it at 15-15. Still tied 18-18, the Lady Braves won the next to points to go up 20-18 after a kill by Morris and an ace. Alcorn was still in front 23-22 when sophomore
Jasmine Chambers registered a kill, and a kill by Cabo ended the set.
The Tigers held a slight 11-10 edge in the fourth when they went on a 5-1 spurt to take command at 16-11. Alcorn was able to get the deficit down to 18-15 after a JSU error, but couldn't get any closer. The Lady Braves called timeout trailing 23-16, but JSU was able to end the match on an Alcorn attack error and a kill by Camry Dabney.
Dabney led JSU with a match-high 17 kills.
The Lady Braves will remain on the road Monday when they head to Mississippi Valley State for a 6 p.m. match at the Harrison HPER Complex.
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