Last Friday's straight sets home victory against Alabama A&M to open SWAC play was more like the performance that Alabama State University women's volleyball  coach Penny Lucas-White had been seeking—an all-encompassing, full-on team collaboration that resulted in a season-high .386 hitting percentage and smiles abound. 

The Lady Hornets were razor sharp as it committed a season-low eight total team errors.  The team spread the ball around the floor with ease by picking up nearly three more assists per set above their season average (12.33 assists per set on Friday as compared to 9.46 assists per set on the season). 

And, the kills kept coming one after another with a boom there and a thump there.  ASU produced almost three more kills per set than its' average.  (13.33 kills per set on Friday as opposed to a 10.41 season average)

Coach Lucas-White could hardly sit down for a moment.  At one point during the match, junior middle hitter Myla Marshall pumped her fist and held the pose.  Coach Lucas-White mimicked her gesture. 

Alabama State (5-15 overall, 1-0 SWAC) will look to keep things rolling when it hits the road for three consecutive match ups against SWAC teams from the state of Mississippi.
 
First up will be a Thursday match at Jackson State (3-16, 0-0 SWAC) at 7 p.m. in Jackson, Miss.  

The trip will follow with a visit to Alcorn State (4-9, 0-0 SWAC) in Lorman, Miss. on Friday at 6 p.m. and then will wrap up with a Saturday afternoon meeting at Mississippi Valley State (2-14, 0-1 SWAC) in Itta Bena, Miss. at 1 p.m.  Note that records are as of Wednesday, October 8. 

Team leaders:  Jackson State: Mikayla Rolle (117 kills), Jenna Siddiqui (227 assists), Kianna Shelton (38 blocks), Simone Ward (150 digs, 10 aces); Alcorn State: Heather Jackson (90 kills), Kyla Menefee (15 aces), Sydney Mellom (258 assists), Vanessa Ortega (182 digs), Erica Caddell (23 blocks); Mississippi Valley State: Halee Clark (99 kills), Steffi Rodriguez, Alexis Williams, Kayondra Hood (tied-seven aces), Alexandria Garland (250 assists), Steffi Rodriguez (123 digs), Halle Gayten (28 blocks); Alabama State: Junior outside hitter Chelsey Scott (133 kills), senior setter Ellyn Jones (378 assists, 21 aces), junior middle hitter Myla Marshall (54 blocks), junior outside hitter Rachel Smith (137 digs).