MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Alcorn Volleyball suffered a pair of tough losses on Sunday, with the Braves dropping matches against Bethune-Cookman (L, 3-0) and Alabama State (L, 3-0) as part of the first Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) cluster event of the 2022 season at Lockhart Gymnasium on the campus of Alabama State University.
Bethune-Cookman 3, Alcorn 0
Faith Archibong and
Makayla Wardlaw each posted nine kills for Alcorn, but it was not enough as the Braves fell in a tightly contested meeting with Bethune-Cookman by a 3-0 score at Lockhart Gymnasium on the campus of Alabama State. The Braves fell on scores of 25-22, 25-21, 25-17.
In a contest that saw several lead changes and ties, it was Bethune-Cookman (1-15, 1-3 SWAC) registering the kills at the right time to step away with the win.
Alcorn (2-15, 1-3 SWAC) was able to log a .227 hitting percentage as a team in the opening set, while BCU hit at .233 in opposition. The eventual turning point would be a late Alleah Dallas kill and an
Alissa Williams block that allowed the Wildcats a 22-20 lead that proved to be just too much for the Purple and Gold in the end.
In the second set, it was much of the same with the flow going back and forth throughout. But it would be four kills in the set from Kytal Price of the Wildcats that were significant in the 25-21 win for her side.
Alcorn was limited to just .033 hitting in the third set, as Bethune-Cookman countered with 12 kills, collectively, on 29 swings and hitting .276 in the frame en route to the match sweep.
Alcorn used the nine kills from Archibong and Wardlaw to guide the Purple and Gold throughout the match, as Archibong added three blocks (two assisted) and Wardlaw another two (one solo).
Jeda Curry supplied six kills and nine digs for the Braves in the match.
Ramona Pulu had a team-high 16 assists from her setter position on the court. And it was the defensive exploits of
Mikenzie Young-Mullins leading that front with a team-high 15 digs.
Alabama State 3, Alcorn 0
Alcorn was unable to find late points in each set Sunday evening, as the Braves dropped a 3-0 decision to homestanding Alabama State at Lockhart Gymnasium. The Braves dropped the match on scores of 25-19, 25-21, 25-10.
Alcorn (2-15, 1-3 SWAC) hung tough with the Hornets through the opening two sets.
Alaina Armstrong hit at a whopping .778 for the match, as she led the Braves with seven kills on just nine swings – a career-best for the Richardson, Texas freshman. Meanwhile,
Makayla Wardlaw provided the Purple and Gold with six kills and a pair of digs.
However, Alabama State (8-13, 5-1 SWAC) hit .571 as a team in the third set, using 17 kills against just a single error on 28 swings to complete the match sweep.
As a team, Alcorn registered 25 kills, but was held to just one block (by way of
Jodorrian Taylor) in the match.
Freshman setter
Ramona Pulu setup the offensive attack with nine assists. The defense was charged by
Mikenzie Young-Mullins with six digs, while a host of Braves collected two digs apiece for the match.
The host Hornets were anchored by Kalysia Bates with 12 kills, followed by A'Nylah Cobb with 11 kills, two digs and a service ace. Emily Brooks had 16 assists for the match, and it was Bates adding five blocks. The defense was paced by Temperance Chatman with 10 digs in the contest.
Alcorn concludes play at the first SWAC Cluster of 2022 on Monday, when the Braves take on Jackson State at 11 a.m.
Follow Alcorn State Volleyball on Twitter (
@AlcornStVB) for all the latest news and updates. For all Alcorn State Athletics news, follow us on Twitter (
@BravesSports), Instagram (
@AlcornSports) and YouTube (
Alcorn State Sports).
– #ForgingAhead –
