LORMAN, Miss. – The Alcorn State University volleyball program will have not played in nearly a full month when it steps on the court Monday evening as it faces Grambling State on the road before traveling to Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Tuesday.
The Lady Braves (1-2, 1-2 SWAC) are eager to get back to live action as practicing against each other and film study have gotten monotonous.
"The time we've been able to practice has been great for us. Being able to get back to the basics and focus on our mental toughness has truly made us a stronger team," said Head Coach Melissa Robinson. "Being able to take a look at our film and be able to go back to the drawing board has really been awesome. Our team has continued to grow and we're excited to get the opportunity to compete this week."
Â
Scouting the Grambling State Lady Tigers (4-3, 2-2 SWAC)
GSU has swept a pair of NAIA foes in Tougaloo and Jarvis Christian while being on the other end of a sweep at the hands of Northwestern State in non-conference action.
In SWACtion, Grambling lost its first two against Prairie View A&M and Southern before rebounding to win two straight versus Arkansas-Pine Bluff and the rematch with Southern.
The Lady Tigers are a balanced squad that attacks you from all angles, evident by seven different players averaging a kill per set or better, led by Gillian Jones' 3.50 with an impressive .300 hitting percentage.
Kalee Caldwell sets up GSU's stable of strikers, producing exactly five assists for each set played to go along with tying Maurisa Harris for the team lead in service aces (6).
On the defensive end, Jada Taylor does the dirty work with an average of 5.50 digs per set.
Grambling State is not a tall squad as their two top blockers (Gillian Jones & Tamaira Johnson), who combine for 15 of the team's 19 blocks (78.9%), are both less than six-feet tall.
The Lady Tigers come into the matchup as owners of a 55-24 series lead after sweeping the Lady Braves in 2019.
Â
Scouting the Arkansas-Pine Bluff Lady Lions (3-3, 2-3 SWAC)
Â
UAPB also played its lone non-conference game to date against an NAIA adversary, taking out Philander Smith in straight sets.
The black and gold have played the two Texas schools and the two Louisiana institutions during league competition, picking up an identical 1-1 record against each state's representatives. The Lady Lions are currently 0-1 against SWAC universities in Mississippi, losing 3-1 at Jackson State.
Zyonn Smith is far and away the strongest attacker on the floor for Arkansas-Pine Bluff, averaging more than two kills more per set (3.95) than the next best teammate (1.86) while hitting .202 for the season.
The top assister goes to Nikole Akamine with 4.71 a match and she also has a mean serve as it tops the club at ten.
Haley Gomez is the net protector for the Lady Lions, knocking down 29 blocks while her defensive partner in crime is Nyah Ellis with an average of 4.42 digs per set.
Alcorn is one win shy of doubling up on UAPB in the all-time history between the programs, going 27-14 against the Lady Lions and splitting last season's meetings.
#FearTheBrave
