BATON ROUGE, La. | Jackson State volleyball delivered a strong performance on the road Sunday, earning a 3-1 victory over Southern at the Horace W. Moody Intramural Sports Complex to strengthen its position in Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) play.
Jackson State (9-11, 5-2 SWAC) claimed the match by scores of 25-20, 19-25, 25-16 and 25-19, bouncing back after dropping the second set to secure the conference win.
JSU established its presence early, taking the opening set 25-20 behind an efficient offensive attack. The Tigers recorded 18 kills in the frame and hit .359, setting the tone for the match. After Southern evened the contest with a 25-19 second-set victory, Jackson State responded emphatically in the third set.
Jackson State regained control with a 25-16 win in the third, capitalizing on Southern's offensive miscues while building momentum at the net. JSU then closed out the match in the fourth set, using a strong stretch of play to pull away and secure the 25-19 victory.
Jackson State's offensive efficiency proved to be a major difference, as the Tigers finished with 60 kills and a .304 hitting percentage, compared with Southern's 42 kills and .150 hitting percentage. The Tigers also held the advantage in digs, 61-48, showcasing their defensive effort throughout the four-set contest.
Hope Briggs led the Tigers with 13 kills on an outstanding .545 hitting percentage, committing just one attack error on 22 attempts. Shelby Zanders added 11 kills and a team-high 14.5 points, while Sophia McKenzie contributed 12 kills and 14 digs. Kyra Dove chipped in eight kills and four total blocks, helping Jackson State maintain pressure at the net.
Naija Gadis orchestrated the offense with 29 assists, while Giannelle Asomani anchored the defensive effort with 18 digs. McKenzie also delivered a strong all-around performance, recording double-digit kills and digs to help fuel the Tigers' victory.
Up Next
The Tigers will travel to Huntsville to take on Alabama A&M Friday afternoon. First serve is set for 12 p.m.
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