Two sets into Sunday night’s SWAC opener, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff looked primed to claim its first conference win.
Instead, Alabama State rallied to defeat UAPB 3-2 in volleyball at H.O. Clemmons Arena in Pine Bluff.
UAPB (2-13, 0-1 SWAC) won the first two sets 25-20 and 25-21, but ASU won the next three to end its 10-game losing streak.
Head coach Gabrielle Floyd said the Lady Lions lost the edge they started the game with in the third set.
“We got a little comfortable too soon,” Floyd said. “We weren’t able to completely come back with the same aggression we had initially.”
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
UAPB senior Zykia Jones and ASU freshman Bailee Payne led their teams with 15 kills apiece. Jones also had 15 digs. Ashanti Butler added 12 kills for UAPB, and Marlina Anderson had 10.
The Lady Lions finished with five solo blocks and 12 block assists, well ahead of ASU’s three solo blocks and two block assists. UAPB senior Laila Fortson finished with three of each, while junior Samanta Newman had four block assists. Butler had three assists with one solo.
Floyd said the Lady Lions were at their best when they were blocking shots.
“It just kind of turns the team on,” Floyd said. “They get excited behind them and everything. It just kind of changes the whole tempo for us.”
Amayah Jones clinched a win for UAPB in the first set. Her kill finished off a 5-0 run. The Lady Lions led 3-1 early but never led by more than four points until the final run. ASU took its first lead at 15-14 with a 4-0 run, and the teams traded the lead until UAPB pulled away in the end.
Alabama State (4-10, 1-0) started the second set well, leading by as much as 11-7 when UAPB took a timeout. The Lady Lions fought back, finally taking the lead off a block by Butler. UAPB used a 9-1 run to get set point at 24-19. ASU fought off two set points before a service error ended it, giving the Lady Lions a 2-0 match lead.
Floyd said the Lady Lions started the game with the right mindset.
“We started off very aggressively, which was really good,” Floyd said. “Our serve receive, I think, was good. We had the balls getting up to the setter. We weren’t running all over the court, and we were able to make some good plays offensively.”
The Lady Hornets never let UAPB come close to a sweep in the third, winning the set 25-18 after taking a dominant early 10-4 lead. The Lady Lions built some momentum as the set went on but never got closer than five points. ASU’s Kaylen Hines scored the final kill.
ASU won the fourth set 25-21 to force a decisive fifth. The set remained tight throughout. Amayah Jones gave UAPB a 20-19 lead, but ASU finished the set on a 6-1 run to clinch it. Christyn Ashby had two kills on that run, including the decisive one.
The Lady Hornets dominated UAPB early in the fifth, taking a 6-1 lead and forcing a Lady Lions timeout. UAPB fired back, cutting the lead to 9-7, but ASU answered with a 5-1 run. UAPB fought off three match points with kills by Fortson and Zykia Jones, who also combined for a block, but Payne scored her third kill of the set to end the match.
UAPB will attempt to bounce back Monday night against Alabama A&M at 6:30 p.m. at Clemmons Arena.
UAPB senior Zykia Jones (12) attacks the ball while Alabama State graduate students Zanobia Willis (20) and A’Nylah Cobb (11) attempt to block. (Special to the Commercial/William Harvey)