JSU-1, Houston Christian-3
JSU opened strong and claimed the first set but ultimately fell 3–1 to Houston Christian on Friday afternoon at the Thomas Assembly Center. The Tigers (0–7) captured the opener 25–23 before the Huskies (4–5) rallied to take the next three sets by scores of 25–23, 25–13, and 25–21.
 
How It Happened
Jackson State set the tone early with a gritty first-set performance. Behind a balanced attack from Jayden James, Hope Briggs, and Cierra Gilbert, the Tigers used timely kills and key defensive stops to outlast the Huskies in a 25–23 opener.
The second set featured four ties and four lead changes, with JSU pushing late. However, Houston Christian capitalized on a decisive service run and closed it out, 25–23, to even the match.
The Huskies dominated the third set with efficient hitting and aggressive serving, holding JSU to a -.111 attack percentage in a 25–13 decision. The Tigers regrouped in the fourth frame and kept pace through five ties, but HCU surged late to secure the match 25–21.
 
Inside the Numbers

• Jayden James: Career-best 23 kills, .444 hitting, 11 digs, 23.0 points
• Hope Briggs: 9 kills, 2 blocks, 10.0 points
• Cierra Gilbert: 4 kills, 2 blocks, 6.0 points
• Kyra Dove: 5 blocks, 5.5 points
• Setters: Karys Dove (22 assists, 8 digs) and Naija Gadis (14 assists, 5 digs) combined for 36 assists
• Kymorah Carter: 12 digs, 1 service ace

JSU-1, ULM-3

Jackson State volleyball battled through four tightly contested sets but came up short in a 3–1 loss to ULM on Saturday afternoon at Fant-Ewing Coliseum. The Lady Tigers (0–8) secured a dominant third-set victory before the Warhawks (6–4) closed out the match by scores of 28–26, 25–17, 15–25, and 25–23.
How It Happened
The opening set featured six ties and two lead changes, with both teams trading momentum in the late stages. Despite strong swings from Jayden James and Hope Briggs, ULM edged the Tigers, 28–26.
The Warhawks built on that energy in the second frame, hitting .361 while holding Jackson State to just nine kills, and pulled away for a 25–17 decision.
Jackson State responded with its best set of the day, using seven team blocks to disrupt ULM's attack in the third. Kyra Dove, Briggs, and Ryleigh Davis anchored the defense at the net, while James and Kamiera Watkins powered the offense in a convincing 25–15 win.
The fourth set turned into a thriller with nine ties and six lead changes. JSU held a late advantage behind Watkins' serving and Briggs' timely kills, but ULM rallied with a closing run to seal the 25–23 match-clincher.
Inside the Numbers

• Jayden James: 14 kills, 13 digs, 1 ace, 16 points
• Hope Briggs: 13 kills on .524 hitting, 4 blocks, 15.5 points
• Kamiera Watkins: 7 kills, 2 aces, 4 blocks, 11.5 points
• Kyra Dove: 6 kills, 4 blocks, 9.5 points
• Kymorah Carter: Team-high 19 digs
• Naija Gadis (18 assists) and Karys Dove (17 assists) combined for 35