#SWACVB18: ASU advances to sixth-straight SWAC volleyball tourney final
SWAC.org
ITTA BENA, Miss. – Behind strong efforts from Bayle’ Bennett and Krysta Medearis, Alabama State advanced to its sixth-straight Southwestern Athletic Conference Women’s Volleyball Tournament Final with a sweep over Southern Saturday evening at R.W. Harrison HPER Complex.
Alabama State (22-17) won 25-21, 25-19, 25-20.
Taira Cottingham and Medearis led the initial charge for the defending champions, as the duo bashed home a pair of kills each to get the Lady Hornets going. Medearis overwhelmed the Lady Jaguars early on, accounting for a quartet of spikes as Alabama State put together a 14-9 lead.
Southern (13-17) didn’t back down, as net defense led by Paige Hall allowed the Lady Jaguars to remain in striking distance. The Lady Jaguars continued to lurk as the set progressed, and errant blasts from the Lady Hornets ultimately forced a 20-20 tie. After talking things over, Alabama State reestablished the upper hand thanks to Medearis and Bennett, ultimately taking the first set.
The battle evened out during the start of set two, with Southern setting the pace through urgency-laden play. However, State regained its footing thanks to a sextuple of putdowns from Bennett that keyed a 13-4 run for the Lady Hornets and led to a 19-13 Alabama State lead.
After Alabama State earned a set point opportunity, Southern came alive thanks to a pair of blasts from Arabella Hall, but Cottingham closed the set for the Lady Hornets following a timeout.
Much like the prior stanza, the Lady Jaguars were aggressive out of the blocks in the third and – after weathering an comeback storm from the Lady Hornets – put together an 11-9 lead. Alabama State returned fire, usurping the Lady Jaguars’ grip on matters with a 9-2 run that propelled the Lady Hornets to a victory punctuated by a Candace Martin block.
Medearis led the Lady Hornets with 12 kills, and Bennett added 11 to go with nine digs. Cottingham smacked down eight kills and figured in on three blocks. Kori Kutsch dealt 37 helpers in the match, and Kayla Torres added 14 digs.
A. Hall and Brianna Hawkins posted six kills apiece. Vaterra Calais dished 13 assists and seven digs.