JACKSON, Miss. – The Alcorn State University volleyball program lost matches to Prairie View A&M and Grambling State on Saturday with the latter being a back-and-forth five-set affair.

The Lady Braves (4-19, 2-11 SWAC) got a major contribution from freshman Jéda Curry as she was the team's leading scorer for the second straight day of the SWAC Round-Up. Curry accumulated 16 kills (2.0 per set) in the two matches with 16 digs (2.0 per set), four aces and two assists mixed in.

Junior Jasmine Chambers topped the Lady Braves with 3.9 assists per set (31 total) as well as 19 digs (2.4 per set).

 
Prairie View A&M | L, 0-3 (12-25, 19-25, 19-25)

The first set was a stalemate through 16 points as each side claimed eight. Six unanswered from the Panthers and 17 of the last 21 points went to PVAMU as Prairie View took a convincing win (12-25).

The second set followed a similar path with the score being deadlocked at eight. A pair of 4-0 PVAMU runs sandwiched between 2-0 runs by the Lady Braves gave the Panthers a 16-12 advantage. Prairie View kept Alcorn at a safe distance of at least four for the rest of the set as they went ahead by two sets (19-25).

With its backs against the wall, Coach Robinson's bunch came out swinging with a 5-1 rally to begin the third set. Eight consecutive points from PVAMU took the wind out of the Lady Braves sails a it moved ahead 9-5. Alcorn fought back valiantly as it moved to within one (16-15). Prairie View A&M eventually pulled back in front by six which was the final margin for victory as it put the finishing touches on a three-set win (19-25).

Chambers notched her second consecutive double-double, fifth of the season and eight of her Lady Braves career with a game-high 15 assists (5.0 per set) and a team-best 13 digs (4.33 per set).

Redshirt senior Singryd Valadares accumulated her third double-digit kill performance of 2019, pacing the purple and gold with 13 kills while junior Fiapaipai Iosia had a season-high three service aces to go along with seven digs.
 

Grambling State | L, 2-3 (13-25, 25-18, 11-25, 25-17, 12-15)

Through 21 points of the first set, Grambling had led the entire way but the Lady Braves had been hanging around, trailing 12-9. Seven straight points by the Tigers blew the set open and helped guide GSU to a win to open the match (13-25).

The black and gold took an early 8-6 edge in the second set before Alcorn took over. From that point forward it was all Lady Braves as Coach Robinson's girls went off for 11 of the next 13 points to take a commanding 17-10 upper-hand en route to a two-set split (25-18).

GSU got a hard-fought battle with the Lady Braves at 13-11 after 24 points of the third set. Grambling State exploded moving forward, ending the set on a 12-point blitz to win the third set going away (11-25).

The Tigers extended its point streak to 13 as it opened up the fourth set with a kill but the purple and gold proceeded to take out some of its frustrations from the following set, taking an 8-3 advantage. Grambling came back to cut it to one at 12-11 but a 10-1 Lady Braves barrage ensued as its lead to climbed to ten and allowed Alcorn to send the match to a do-or-die fifth set (25-17).

Grambling State made the opening statement in the deciding set, outscoring Alcorn 5-0 and then holding a 9-5 lead at the 14-point mark. Alcorn came storming back to claim the upper-hand at 12-11 but that would be the last points scored for the girls from Lorman as GSU put together the last four points to take the fifth and final set (15-12).

Curry had a match to remember as she tallied her first career double-double with 11 kills and 10 digs to go along with season-highs in points (15), service aces (4) and assists (2).

Sophomore Sydney Joseph fronted the offensive attack in a 14-kill effort while hitting a team-best .393 on 28 attempts. The defensive end was anchored by sophomore Mariah Wilmoth at 11 digs and junior Daharri Thompkins who tied for the team-high three blocks versus the Tigers.

The purple and gold will end its long weekend against the Arkansas-Pine Bluff Lady Lions Sunday at 12:30 p.m. in the Jackson Convention Center.

#FearTheBrave