Sept. 13, 2008
Final Stats
After suffering a heartbreaking loss in the second set to fall down 2-0, Alabama State had two options. The Hornets could pack it in, settling for a hard-fought loss or they could battle to the end.
They chose the latter, and eventually battled their way to the 18-25, 30-32, 26-24, 25-20, 15-10 victory Saturday over Southern in the ASU Volleyball Invitational at Lockhart Gymnasium in non-conference action. The victory moves the Hornets, winners in six of the last seven, to 6-2 on the season.
Alabama State trailed 24-23 and the Jaguars were serving for the set, but a kill by junior Arieon Trinity (New Orleans, LA/Edna Kerr) knotted the game. From there, both teams fought off seven collective match-points in the heart-pounding second set.
The tide turned the way of Southern following two ASU errors, putting the Jaguars on the brink of victory.
Senior libero Sheena Parms (Atlanta, GA/Griffin) helped the Hornets build a five-point lead midway through the third set. However, SU gradually chipped away at its deficit - eventually taking the lead at 20-19.
Undeterred, Alabama State scored seven of the next 11 points to pull out the victory. The Hornets would buzz its way to a 25-20 victory in the fourth, setting the tide for a furious finish.
Alabama State raced out to a 5-1 lead in the final set, and an 8-5 lead at the side switch. The momentary stoppage of play appeared to slow down the Hornets' momentum as Southern quickly pulled to within one. From there, Trinity carried her team to the victory. The senior recorded a kill and two aces as ASU scored four consecutive points, putting the Hornets on the verge of the win that was sealed with junior Jessica Holt's (Montgomery, AL/Carver) team-high 21st kill.
Holt and senior Shajuana Pina (Ft. Walton Beach, FL/Ft. Walton Beach) combined for a majority of the offensive output with 35 of the team's 59 kills. Trinity added 11 kills to go with a team-high 21 digs in the victory.
Junior Anna Meinert (Arab, AL/Arab) distributed a career-high 52 assists in aiding the victory.
Parms recorded 19 digs, while freshman Deidra Byner (Birmingham, AL/Minor) had a career-high 11 digs.
