MATCH STATS
- Alabama def. Alabama State 3-1 (21-25, 25-22, 25-13, 25-21)
- Alabama improves to 14-6; Alabama State drops to 16-8
- Montgomery, Alabama
- Attendance: 576
- Box Score
Montgomery, Alabama – In a quick break from conference action, Alabama took down in-state opponent Alabama State 3-1 after overcoming a 1-0 set hole.
Mahalia Swink led the charge for Alabama with 15 kills and hit an astounding .483 for the match to go with her two blocks. She was only to be outdone in terms of points by Leah Lawrence, who had less kills (10) while hitting .261, but also tacked on seven blocks (four solo, three assisted).
In the losing effort, Bayle’ Bennett also had 15 kills with Krysta Medearis another of a quartet in double-digit kills with 11 while hitting .450.
Set one was tight early, but Alabama pulled ahead 15-10 in the middle part of the set. A 5-0 Alabama State run evened things once again as it was just the start to a 15-6 spurt that led to a 25-21 set victory.
Set two didn’t feature any long runs as it was more back-and-forth between the two sides. Eventually though it was Alabama coming out on top as they wouldn’t turn back in set three with the most lopsided of the victories for a 2-1 lead.
Things looked similar to start set four as well, with Alabama taking the first five points. However, Alabama State would come back to tie at 12 and then later at 18. The Crimson Tide book-ended the final set though with flurries of points, as they notched seven of the final 10 to take the match 3-1.
Alabama State actually out-hit Alabama .235-.231, but the Crimson Tide had more aces (7-1) on less serve errors (3-10) to pair with more digs (58-51) and blocks (13-6).
Next up, Alabama gets back into SEC action with a road trip at LSU on Sunday. Alabama State isn’t done with their quick conference break as they face Troy before heading back into SWAC play where they are currently 9-0.
PRESS RELEASES:
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – After dropping the opening set, Alabama volleyball rallied with three-straight set victories to win the match, 3-1.
With a raucous crowd packing Lockhart Gymnasium, Alabama (14-6) dropped the opening set to Alabama State (16-8), 21-25, but rebounded with wins in sets two, three and four by scores of 25-22, 25-13 and 25-21, respectively. Sophomore Mahalia Swink led the offense with 15 kills while senior Leah Lawrence and sophomore Ginger Perinar were also in double figures with 10 each. Freshman Meghan Neelon was two digs shy of a double-double, earning 42 assists and eight digs. Senior Natalie Murison tallied a season-high three aces from the service line and junior Quincey Gary led the defense with 16 digs.
The lead traded back and forth early in set one, with Alabama retaking the lead on a kill by Lawrence, 9-8, and using a 5-2 run to add some distance before Alabama State took a timeout trailing 14-10. The Hornets fought back after the break to tie the set at 15-15 and eventually take an 18-17 lead. Alabama took its first timeout trailing 21-19 and its second timeout at set point, trailing 24-21 at set point. The Hornets would win the set on the next point, 25-21.
Alabama State jumped ahead 5-2 early before Alabama responded with seven-straight points to lead 9-5 and force the Hornets to take a timeout. Alabama State quickly fought back to tie the frame at 10-10 and, after eight more tie scores, the Hornets managed to pull ahead 21-19 and the Tide took a timeout. The lead swung back in Alabama’s favor as a service ace by Gary made it 22-21 and Alabama State took a timeout. Consecutive blocks by Neelon and Lawrence would close out the set for Alabama, winning 25-22 to even the match at 1-1.
Leading 4-3 in set two, Alabama scored four unanswered points to extend its lead to 8-3 before Alabama State took a timeout. The Tide scored three more points before the Hornets scored to break the streak with Alabama now in front 11-4. The Tide continued to extend its lead, moving ahead by double digits at 19-9 and the Hornets called a timeout. Alabama held on to win set three, 25-13, and take a 2-1 match lead.
Alabama built an early lead in set four, starting the frame with five-straight points. Alabama State fought back within one point three times before tying the set at 12-12. The Hornets would fall behind before tying the set again at 18-18. The Tide retook the lead on a kill by Lawrence and remained in front for the remainder of the set, winning 25-21 to claim the 3-1 match victory.
Next up, Alabama resumes SEC play in Baton Rouge, La. against LSU (13-4, 4-2 SEC) on Sunday, Oct. 15 at 1 p.m. CT.
Get all the latest information on the team by following @AlabamaVBall on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. General athletic news can also be found at UA_Athletics on Twitter and Instagram and Alabama Athletics on Facebook.
MONTGOMERY, Ala. | The Alabama State University volleyball team took the first set from the University of Alabama before a capacity crowd at Lockhart Gymnasium before falling 3-1 (25-21,22-25,13-25,21-25) to the Crimson Tide Thursday evening.
Bayle’ Bennett led Alabama State (16-8) with a match-high 15 kills, leading four players in double figure kills. Ni’yesha Brown joined her with 14 kills and 10 digs, while Krysta Medearis and Payten Clark each added 11 kills.
Kori Kutsch and Justus Tuiolosega led Alabama State with 22 assists each, while Asha Daniels led Alabama State with a match-high 21 digs.
The Lady Hornets were trailing in the opening set 15-10, before a kill from Brown brought them within 15-11 and ignited a 5-0 run that would tie the match. After the two exchanged six points, an attack error by Alabama (14-6) opened the door for Alabama State to take the lead. The Lady Hornets took a two-point lead on a kill by Briana Dorsey, before Alabama closed to within one. However, a kill from Brown and another by Dorsey, along with a pair of errors to lead the Lady Hornets to the first set victory. The first set victory was the first for Alabama State over the Crimson Tide since 1989.
Alabama State jumped out to an early 5-2 lead in the second set on a pair of kills from Medearis and one from Bennett, before Alabama went on a 7-0 run to take a 9-5 lead. The Lady Hornets did not go easily, as they battled back to tie the set and eventually regain the lead at 16-15 on a Bennett kill. The two teams traded points until the Crimson Tide went on a 3-0 run to win the second set 25-22.
The Crimson Tide won the third set 25-13, before the Lady Hornets battled back in the fourth set. After Alabama took a 6-1 lead, the Lady Hornets went on a 10-6 run to tie the set at 12-all on a kill from Clark. From there, the two teams traded points until Alabama was able to pull away following an 18-all tie on a kill from Dorsey. The Crimson Tide closed the set on a 7-3 run to claim the match.
Mahalia Swink led Alabama with 15 kills, while Ginger Perinar and Leah Lawrence each added 10. Meghan Neelon led Alabama with 42 assists, while Quincy Gary added 16 digs.
Alabama State out-hit Alabama on the night, finishing the night hitting .235 and recorded 59 kills to the 49 put up by Alabama.
The Lady Hornets return to action Tuesday on the road at Troy University, a match that will be broadcast on ESPN3.
Follow the Hornets
For complete coverage of Alabama State University volleyball, please follow the Hornets on social media @BamaStateVB (Twitter), /BamaStateSports (Facebook) and @BamaStateSports (Instagram) or visit the official home of Alabama State athletics at BamaStateSports.com.
Leave a Reply