Lady Hornets tame Grambling State Tigers 3-0
GRAMBLING, La. (bamastatesports.com) – Briana Dorsey and Candace Martin combined to form an intimidating presence at the net, Justus Tuiolosega steadied the team with sound setting and serving and Jamie Coleman covered plenty of space as a two-way player as the Alabama State women’s volleyball team extended their winning streak to five straight with a 3-0 (25-13, 25-22, 25-20) victory at Grambling State on Friday afternoon at the Hobdy Assembly Center.
Dorsey and Martin each collected 11 kills apiece, Tuiolosega added 17 assists and five aces and Coleman led the team with 16 digs and sprinkled in seven assists to lead the Lady Hornets (6-7 overall, 3-0 SWAC).
“We’re picking it up and winning, but I’m still seeing spurts of immaturity,” said sixth-year ASU head coach Penny Lucas-White, who is now just three wins shy of reaching 100 career wins at the school.
“We lost some focus and we can’t afford that. I think we finished on a strong note and never gave up after they [Grambling] played better.”
For Martin, her 11 kills set a new career high.
The mark bested her previous high of seven kills against Savannah State on Sept. 10.
“She’s [Martin] really rounding into form,” Lucas-White said. “She’s developed into a force for us. That was a really good match for her. I expect a good weekend for her. We completely trust her. She’s going to always drive. She wants the ball. It was that Savannah State game where she had turned the corner and started to connect with our setters.”
Alabama State started quickly by hitting .308 as a team to take the opening set with ease and then fended off the Lady Tigers (2-5 overall, 1-2 SWAC) in a contentious second set that featured a temporary mix up with the score.
After referees had conferred with the scorer’s table, play resumed with the teams locked in a 15-15 tie.
ASU regrouped behind some big plays from Tuiolosega, Dorsey and Martin to win the set by three points.
The Lady Hornets saved their most efficient set for last as the team combined to hit for a .355 hitting percentage and won the final set 25-20.
For Dorsey, this is her fourth game this season in which she has accrued double digits in kills for a single game.
Krysta Medearis also had seven kills, Kayla Torres chipped in with eight digs and Kori Kutsch had seven assists.
The Lady Hornets get a quick turnaround and will play at Arkansas-Pine Bluff in Little Rock on Saturday at 10 a.m.
