#SWACVB18: Texas Southern ousts Jackson State
SWAC.org
Texas Southern 3, Jackson State 0
Box Score
ITTA BENA, Miss. – A huge match by Alexis Austin pushed Texas Southern past Jackson State and to the 2018 Southwestern Athletic Conference Women’s Volleyball Tournament Semifinals Friday afternoon at R.W. Harrison HPER Complex.
Texas Southern prevailed 25-22, 29-27, 25-21.
A back-and-forth match initially, Texas Southern (11-22) gained the upper hand thanks to a trifecta of Jackson State gaffes in the attacking phase. Following a JSU timeout to talk things over, the 4-seed found its footing with a 11-4 run of its own to take a 16-15 lead.
Kirby Anderson responded in kind for TSU, figuring in on a pair of blocks as well tapping a kill home to put her team back in front. After a Madison Wolf kill and a block by Kanile’a Nomura allowed Jackson State to tie the score at 20, the teams then began to trade points until a huge putdown by Austin pushed Texas Southern ahead 23-21. TSU managed to wrap up the set with a tandem block by Anderson and Eboni Mitchell.
The sides traded volleys in set two until Jackson State strung together a 12-3 run to pull ahead 23-15. Texas Southern regrouped as Austin and Mitchell sparked a 9-1 sprint to tie matters at 24, and Breyanna York caught JSU napping with a quick attack to give TSU a chance a set point. Jackson State tied it on a Camry Dabney kill, and after more back-and-forth, Anderson and Jada Hall stonewalled an attack to give TSU a 2-0 set lead.
With momentum on its side following the set-stealing rally in the prior frame, Texas Southern cruised to a 17-8 advantage midway through set three. Though Jackson State showed signs of life with Kinly Carter on serve, ultimately getting within three, the No. 5 seed was too much down the stretch of the final set as Austin and Mitchell closed the deal.
Austin led the way with 19 spikes, hitting .500. Mitchell added nine kills, and Anderson posted seven kills and eight blocks. York dished out 41 helpers with seven digs, and Valencia Grayson put in a team-high 17 digs.
Dabney posted a team-best 10 kills for Jackson State (11-25). Tielar Richards added nine kills, and Marina Bianchi Brito added eight kills. Priscilla Sanchez put up 18 assists, and Markayshia Masani added 16 digs.