Alabama State volleyball with head coach Penny-Lucas White

Last fall, the Alabama State volleyball team went undefeated in SWAC play, a tremendous accomplishment. But the Hornets got upset in their conference tournament. Therefore, they missed out on the NCAA Tournament.

Now, as they prepare to host Alabama and Arizona, the Hornets say they’re on a mission to right the ship.

“Oh my goodness, that’s the first thing that they did. Talking about right the ship,” Alabama State volleyball head coach Penny Lucas-White said, “talking about setting goals and then going through the different processes of what we’re going to do to get it done.”

The team is buzzing toward their goal.

“It started this past weekend, going 3-0 here at home being able to just accomplish that. What a great way to start the season,” Lucas-White said.

Led by several returning seniors, including one outside hitter whose value can be described with an acronym:

“OMG,” Lucas-White said. “A’Nylah Cobb had a phenomenal weekend. At one point, she had 10 kills on 16 swings with one error. A’Nylah hit a double-double in the last match that we played against Nichols State. She brings composure,.”

Then there’s SWAC Preseason Libero of the Year, Temperance Chatman.

“She had 18 digs in one game, 19 in another, nd she just brings a lot of composure and wisdom and talking and all the young women just trust her,” Lucas-White said.

Add in a couple of powerful middle transfers in Zanobia Willis and Laila Wooldridge, and Lucas-White believes the Hornets can beat Alabama on Friday.

“I think that would be incredible for the program,” she said. “We did it with Auburn a couple years ago. I think anything’s possible. I would not count it against us, but I guess we are ready to compete. So, they love competition, and that’s where it starts, that you love the game well enough to compete,” Lucas-White said.

Alabama State will host Alabama Friday night at 6 p.m. They’ll also play Arizona Thursday night and Prairie View A&M Saturday afternoon.