WVB Tourney: Alabama State sweeps UAPB, 3-0
SWAC.org
BATON ROUGE, La. - Alabama State women's volleyball team dominated the open round of the semifinals, 3-0 Sunday morning at the Horace Moody Complex, ending Arkansas-Pine Bluff's journey to a SWAC Championship title. Set scores include: 25-18, 25-21 and 25-19.
Both teams entered the semi finals with a 2-1 record in the 2014 SWAC Volleyball Tournament, Arkansas-Pine Bluff (12-18) and Alabama State now (17-18).
Myla Marshall finished with the best hitting percentage, .538. Ellyn Jones finished the match with 16 assists. Rachel Smith led the Hornets with nine kills and Jamie Coleman ccame up with 12 digs.
The Hornets set the tempo with a kill from Freshman of the Year, Brianna Dorsey, scoring the first point of the match. After a kill from Tiara Kelly, Alabama State took an 8-4 lead. Under the serving of setter, Jamie Coleman, ASU went on a 3-0 run. An error from Arkansas-Pine Bluff pushed the Hornets lead by seven, forcing the Golden Lions to call a timeout to regroup. UAPB's Ashlie Jones was the leader of switching the momentum to Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Many errors from ASU caused them to go on a 3-0 run, cutting the lead to four. Two massive kills in a row from Amber Bennett would put the Hornets up by nine, 22-13. Alabama State's aggressive play would lead them to winning the first set.
There was back and forth action for majority of the first set. ASU would eventually take a 9-5 lead. An error from the Hornets tied the score 9-9. A successfully block by UAPB, would give them the first lead of the set, 11-10. A service ace by Setter of the Year, Ellyn Jones pushed the score to 16-11, followed by a kill from Co-Player of the Year Myla Marshall. A kill from Tiara Kelly would secure Alabama State's second set win.
Alabama State University would once again set the tone for the third match, going on a 4-0 run. A soft tip from Chelsey Scott would give the Hornets a six point lead over UAPB, 9-3. Ayanna Parker produced a clean kill to help the Golden Lions take the first lead, 15-14. Dorsey connected on a kill, giving ASU a 20-16 lead. The Hornets would never let up and went on to win the third and final set of the match.
The Hornets will face the loser of Southern University and Jackson State at the Cliford Seymour Gymnasium at 12 p.m.
Visit tournament central for more game day action.