WVB Tourney: Southern Upsets Jackson State, 3-2
SWAC.org
BATON ROUGE, La. – Southern defeated Jackson State, 3-2, in the first match of the day, Sunday morning in Cliford Seymour Gymnasium. The scores included: 25-23, 25-21, 25-18, 25-21, 15-11.
Taiji Thomas led the match with 19 kills, while Phalen Clark registered 42 assists. Diamond Williams sprung for 28 digs. Both teams collected 10 blocks. Jackson State earned its highest hitting percentage during the first set, while Southern secured its in the third.
The Jaguars and the Tigers went back and forth in rallies at the beginning of the set until a couple of impressive blocks from Clark pushed the Jaguars to the lead, 8-5. With arms blazing, the Tigers were able to catch Southern, coming within one point of a tie, but miscommunication from Jackson State built a four-point lead – forcing a Tigers timeout. The Jaguars remained in the lead, increasing the score gap to six, forcing a second Jackson State timeout, but a powerful block from Mikayla Rolle pepped up the JSU team as they moved closer on a four-point run. A block from Leilani Lealaimatafao earned Southern the set win.
Re-adjustments from the first set allowed JSU a 3-0 lead to start the second set. Kills from Thomas helped the Tigers keep the lead, but not with a Southern fight. Both teams took turn scoring, but mistakes from the Jaguars brought a 20-14 score and forced a Southern timeout. Holding their momentum, the Tigers clutched the set, 25-18.
Southern’s Williams tossed the first serve of the third match, which helped gather the Jaguars a 2-0 lead. A unique volley between the team allowed Jackson State to climb back into the set, but the Jaguars regained a lead gap. Under server Karmen Jackson, the Tigers took the set lead, but after a long volley, the Jaguars tied things back up and then took over by three scores. Work from Jackson State brought the score close again, but under the leadership of Marisol Macias, the Jaguars pulled ahead to win the set, making the match 2-1 in favor of the Jaguars.
Like the second set, the Tigers scored first. Back and forth rallies pushed the score to a tie, then a Tigers mistake allowed Southern to take the lead. Jackson State pulled things together bringing the score tied at 14, but fast arms from the Jaguars gave them the lead. At a tie of 21, the Tigers pushed forward snagging the set win and sending the match into set five.
The final set opened with the Jaguars’ on a 5-0 run, but ended on a service error. The Tigers fought back with a couple of kills bringing the set closer. Emotions ran high as both teams laid every part of them on the line. Tying the set, the Tigers took the lead, but could not keep it. Southern took the win and will play in the championship match against the winner of match 13. Jackson State plays Alabama State at 12 p.m.
Visit tournament central for more game day action.