HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Looking to strengthen their chances at a bid to the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Tournament, Alabama A&M (7-25, 6-10 SWAC) opened strong against league-leading Alabama State (18-13, 15-1 SWAC) before falling 3-1 (23-25, 25-15, 25-9. 25-18) in an NCAA Division I women's volleyball match on Friday, November 11.
Following three quick points by the Hornets, A&M answered with a dominant 18-7 run that left them with an 18-10 advantage in the opening frame. Back-to-back points by ASU cut it to six before the Bulldogs took five of the next seven to extend to a 23-14 advantage.
It would not stay that way as Alabama State proceeded to score seven straight before a handling error brought about set point. Back-to-back scores for the Hornets then cut it to one before freshman outside hitter Caitlin Shaw (Desoto, Texas drilled the set-ending kill for a 25-23 victory.
ASU opened Game 2 with a 5-1 burst before the Bulldogs responded with seven of the next 12 to cut it to 10-8. In what would quickly turn into a game of runs, the Hornets answered back with a 6-0 run to double it up at 16-8. A&M would get it to within six at 18-12 but no closer as Alabama State knotted up the match with a 7-3 run that delivered a 25-15 set victory.
Alabama A&M would take the first point of the third set and not much else as the Hornets build leads of 12-3 and 20-8. A kill would temporarily interrupt that stretch before ASU score the last five for a commanding 25-9 win that put them up 2-1 in the match.
The clubs would deadlock at 3-3 early on in Game 4 and see Alabama State with a 10-8 lead midway through. They would then score seven of the next nine points to build a 17-10 lead only to see the Bulldogs storm back with a 6-1 run that sliced the deficit to 18-16. They would stay within three, eventually getting to within 20-18 but would run out of steam as ASU took the last four to lock up the set, and the match, with a 25-18 decision.
Freshman middle blocker Madison Reagins (Duncanville, Texas) led A&M with 11 kills and five digs while freshman outside hitter Bailey Duckett (Huntsville, Ala.) matched her with 11 kills. Freshman setter Grace Tapscott (Hartselle, Ala.) dished out 26 assists to fuel the offense and added a team-high eight digs with freshman libero Miya Benson (Desoto, Texas) matching the latter total.
Jada Rhodes drilled 18 kills to pace ASU with Madison Beasley and Emily Brooks splitting the setting responsibilities with 27 and 17, respectively. A'Nylah Cobb added 10 kills and Amaya Finley eight to round out the offense and Brooke Adams anchored the defense with 16 digs. She was joined by Temperance Chatman with 13 digs.
Having closed out the regular season, Alabama A&M will now wait out this weekend's league results and await word if they will qualify for the 2022 SWAC Tournament.
NOTE
Prior to the match Alabama A&M Athletics recognized graduate outside hitter Valeria Alegrias Cambindo (Santiago De Cali, Columbia) as the program's lone senior.
