LORMAN, Miss. — Jackson State volleyball showcased its resilience and determination Friday night, rallying from an opening-set setback to defeat Alcorn State 3-2 (24-26, 25-20, 25-15, 25-27, 15-13) in a thrilling Southwestern Athletic Conference matchup at the Davey L. Whitney Health & Physical Education Complex.
The Tigers (8-11, 4-2 SWAC) responded to a narrow first-set loss with consecutive victories in the second and third sets before Alcorn forced a decisive fifth set. Jackson State delivered when it mattered most, securing the final set 15-13 to claim the conference road win and improve to 4-2 in SWAC play.
Hope Briggs led the Tigers' offensive attack with a standout performance, recording a team-high 25 kills on 38 attempts with just two errors for an impressive .605 hitting percentage. Shelby Zanders added 13 kills while hitting .591, providing another efficient scoring option for Jackson State.
Jada Constanza and Sophia McKenzie contributed 10 and nine kills, respectively, as the Tigers finished with 69 kills and a .288 hitting percentage. Jackson State also controlled the setting game, totaling 63 assists, led by Naija Gadis with 31 assists and Kayla Troutman with 21.
After dropping the opening set 26-24, Jackson State regrouped in the second. The Tigers established control midway through the frame, turning an 11-11 tie into a decisive advantage. Briggs helped fuel the offensive push as Jackson State pulled away to earn a 25-20 victory and even the match.
The Tigers carried that momentum into the third set, producing their most dominant stretch of the night. Following an early battle, Jackson State created separation with a sustained scoring run, turning a close contest into a commanding lead. The Tigers surged ahead 15-6 and maintained their advantage to close out a convincing 25-15 win.
Alcorn answered in the fourth set, overcoming Jackson State's attempts to close out the match to force a fifth set with a 27-25 victory. Rather than allowing the momentum shift to derail their effort, the Tigers regrouped for the decisive frame.
In the fifth set, Jackson State's balanced offense and composure proved crucial. The Tigers finished with 10 kills and only two attack errors in the final frame, hitting .348 to edge the Braves 15-13 and seal the five-set victory.
Defensively, Giannelle Asomani paced Jackson State with 15 digs, while Gadis added 12. Zanders contributed four total blocks, including two solo blocks, helping the Tigers finish with four solo blocks and eight block assists.
Up Next
The Tigers will take on Southern on the road Sunday afternoon. First serve is set for 12 p.m.
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