LORMAN, Miss. - Alcorn State volleyball put together a determined effort Friday evening but ultimately fell in straight sets to Alabama A&M (25-9, 25-12, 25-21) inside the Davey L. Whitney Complex. The Lady Braves showed significant improvement as the match progressed, turning a difficult opening set into a competitive third frame fueled by stronger ball control and more efficient attacking.
Rylan Jones paced Alcorn with 6 kills, finding her rhythm as the offense settled in during the final set.
Michaela Branner added 5 kills—including several key swings that helped Alcorn close the gap midway through the third.
Courtney Carter added 3 kills while contributing at the net and in serve-receive, and
Kasey Watkins provided 2 kills along with a service ace that sparked a brief scoring run.
Setter
Erin Mims finished with a team-high 15 assists and added 9 digs, showing her usual stability in extended rallies.
Tomoni Giddings anchored the back line with another consistent defensive performance, tallying 9 digs and handling a heavy share of Alabama A&M's serve pressure.
After struggling to find momentum early, the Lady Braves made adjustments that paid off in the third set. Improved serve-receive helped Alcorn boost its side-out rate to 60 percent, its highest mark of the night. Branner, Jones, and Carter each chipped in with timely kills as the team fought to stay within striking distance.
Alabama A&M, however, maintained control behind a well-balanced attack led by Rayishon Jackman and Fatima Ramirez. The Bulldogs' efficiency at the net and steady serving created separation in the first two sets and held off Alcorn's surge in the third.
The Lady Braves will look to regroup quickly as they return home on Sunday to host Alabama State at 1 p.m. inside the Whitney Complex.
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