Lady Braves Drop Match To Wiley College Tuesday

LORMAN, Miss. – Back home for the first time this season, the Alcorn State University volleyball program could not solve Wiley College as the visitors took the match 3-0 Tuesday night at the Davey L. Whitney Complex.
 
Sydney Joseph again led the Lady Braves (0-4) on offense with eight kills on 21 total attacks (.238). Jasmine Chambers and Mae Lewis each scored five kills, with Chambers adding a team-high seven assists. Fiapaipai Iosia tied her season-high with five aces and Kaylyn Latin served a pair as well. On the defensive side of the net, Latin recorded nine digs with Chambers and Daharri Thompkins finishing with four block assists each.
 
"We didn't win tonight because we didn't execute on the court," said head coach Chelsey Lucas. "The team must be committed to themselves and to getting better every time they touch the ball."
 
The Lady Wildcats (2-0) started off quick with a 6-1 start to the opening set. Alcorn was able to close the gap 6-4 thanks to a pair of Wiley errors and a Mariah Wilmoth ace, but the visitors refused to let the Purple and Gold get any closer. Up 15-12, Wiley scored four-straight points to create enough separation and took set one 25-20.
 
Both teams wrestled the lead from each other early in set two, but a 6-0 swing forced an Alcorn timeout as the Lady Wildcats built a 13-8 advantage. A Lewis kill and back-to-back aces from Iosia highlighted a four-point response, but Wiley took off on a 7-1 run to make it a 20-13 lead. Kills by Chambers and Joseph, along with a couple Wiley attack errors, gave Alcorn some life at 21-18, but the Lady Braves were unable to catch the opponents as Wiley went up 2-0 with a 25-19 decision.
 
The final set saw started off with Alcorn on a hot streak, scoring five in a row en route to a 7-1 edge. Unfortunately, the Lady Wildcats woke up and used a 5-0 run to pull to within 7-6. Following a tie at 11-11, the Purple and White took over the set and never looked back. The guests closed out set three with a 4-0 run to take the match in straight sets.
 
Iosia now has 14 aces on the season and is currently the only SWAC player averaging more than one per set (1.08). Alcorn held the advantage in total blocks (6-4). Both teams served a total of nine aces.
 
The Lady Braves have a week off to prepare for William Carey (Miss.) and Mississippi College. Alcorn will host the two schools in a tri-match on September 6, beginning with a 2 p.m. game against the Lady Crusaders followed by a 6 p.m. meeting with the Lady Choctaws.
 
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