BATON ROUGE, LA. – The task at hand seemed unlikely to the outside spectator; win five consecutive elimination games to repeat as the SWAC volleyball champions. 

But, just like in those scary monster movies where the killer just won't relent no matter the circumstance, the Alabama State women's volleyball team kept getting back up repeatedly to keep playing in this SWAC Tournament. 

The Lady Hornets concluded it by besting the tournament's previously undefeated team Southern in back-to-back games 3-1 (20-25, 25-14, 25-19, 25-17) and then 3-0 (25-17, 25-16, 25-16) to secure its' second consecutive SWAC Championship. 

For inspiration, head volleyball coach Penny Lucas-White played a clip for her players to watch in a quiet gym setting during the early morning hours Sunday. 

"I didn't want them to feel pressure so I found this clip," Lucas-White said. "It said that, 'You got to want it more than you want to breathe.' It was very quiet.  They closed their eyes.  And, that was it.  They pulled together.  This is the most mentally strong team that I have ever coached. It's been a huge commitment on their part to be at all those early practices every day and put in all the work , but they do it." 

Myla Marshall was named the SWAC's tournament MVP while Marshall and Rachel Smith were named to the All-Tournament team.

Marshall had 56 kills on a .428 hitting percentage with 29 blocks, 12 digs and three aces.  Smith had 56 kills as well with a .217 hitting percentage, 53 digs, seven blocks and six aces. 

Penny Lucas-White was named SWAC Coach of the Year. 

"It's such a honor to coach this team," said Lucas-White.  "They laugh with you.  They cry with you.  We are genuinely a family.  It's a connection we have."

One of the players that coach Lucas-White pointed out who was a main catalyst for keeping the team together was Tiara Kelley. 

"Through the intermissions and in games, she stayed strong,"  Lucas-White said.  "She was our main catalyst."

The team awaits the NCAA selection show on Sunday, Nov. 30 to determine where and who it will play in the NCAA Division 1 women's volleyball tournament that begins on Friday, Dec. 5. Last season, the Lady Hornets played at the University of Washington in Seattle, Wash. 

The SWAC tourney started at 10 a.m. for Alabama State and switched venues from the Horace H. Moody Intramural Center to the Cliford Seymour Gymnasium, and didn't finish until 8:45 p.m. 

But it didn't matter where the games were going to be played as the Lady Hornets did not miss a beat on Sunday rolling on all four of its matches and winning 12 of 13 sets. 

The Lady Hornets played at least two more matches than anybody else and went 6-1 over a two-day span and did it the difficult way by losing a heartbreaking five-set match to Jackson State in just their second match.

The loss placed them down below in the loser's bracket, but ironically that would be the only mention of loser among these players. 

Alabama State got serious from that point forward, sweeping and eliminating Alabama A&M on Saturday and then served up the same fate to Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Sunday morning, picking up another sweep and sending them home.

The Lady Hornets would get their rematch with Jackson State, who dropped a five-set thriller to Southern earlier that day.  Alabama State continued their onslaught by earning a third straight sweep, knocking out their rivals Jackson State. 

Alabama State drew the task of having to defeat Southern twice because the Lady Jaguars were 3-0 in the tournament up to that point. 

The Lady Hornets rallied after dropping the opening set and then didn't look back as it took the next three sets to force a second—and deciding—championship game in front of a packed Cliford Seymour Gymnasium Sunday evening. 

In the first set of game one of the SWAC championships, the Lady Hornets were locked at 18 all, but seven attack errors in the set hurt them as it lost 25-20. 

In the second set, Alabama State traded points early before taking charge in the latter half of the set by taking 17 of the final 21 points to win 25-14. 

Of note, Erika Thompson came up with a tough dig and then Ellyn Jones set up Chelsey Scott for some thunder to give ASU a 15-10 lead.  Jones found Bennett for another kill to push the lead to 18-10.  Kelley finished out the set with a kill on the right side to draw the Lady Hornets even at one set apiece. 

In the third set, the Lady Hornets took a 17-10 lead.  Kelley kill pushed the lead to eight, but Southern won five of the next six points to get within four.  Jones set up Marshall for a point and Scott followed with a smash to give ASU a 21-16 advantage.  Beasley set Bennett back-to-back and a Lady Jaguars' reception error made it 24-17.  Kelley played the closer's role once again by sealing the set for 25-19. 

After 14 ties and 11 lead changes in opening two sets, the Lady Hornets lead from start to finish in the set.

Alabama State got off to another strong start in the fourth set by taking an early 5-1 lead capitalized with a Bennett kill and a fired up exclamation of, "Let's go!" from Bennett as words of encouragement.

Coleman dug it out and passed it over to Beasley, who set Bennett.  The Beasley-Bennett connection was working all game as it pushed the lead the 19-13.  Marshall dumped it to where no Southern player was toward the sidelines to make it 22-14. 

Marshall picked up another tip point over the top of the Jaguars' defense.  Jones found Scott on the left side for a smash.  Jones found Dorsey for match point 25-17. 

Bennett had 13 kills on a .455 hitting percentage with three blocks.  Scott had 10 kills on a .350 with a block, Marshall added eight kills and three blocks and Kelley provided a lift with eight kills and two blocks. 

Beasley had 22 assists and eight digs.  Jones chipped in 13 assists with eight digs.  Coleman led with a team-high 15 digs.

In game two of the championship, the Lady Hornets hit .295 as a team and Kelley led the way with 10 kills as Alabama State swept Southern 25-17, 25-16, 25-18 to complete the repeat as SWAC champions. 

LADY HORNETS EXACT REVENGE ON JACKSON STATE
Less than 24 hours after losing to Jackson State, the Lady Hornets turned it around with a convincing 3-0 sweep (25-11, 25-16, 25-14) against the Lady Tigers. 

Smith had a double-double with 11 kills and 11 digs, Jones and Beasley combined for 34 assists and Alabama State hit .330 as a team to eliminate the Lady Tigers. 

VOLLEYBALL ROLLS PAST ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF
The Lady Hornets started quickly and picked up just what it was seeking—a timely sweep (25-18, 25-21, 25-19) against Arkansas-Pine Bluff in the first elimination game on Sunday of the SWAC Tournament at the Horace Moody Intramural Center.

The Lady Hornets utilized a spread attack to get the job done with four players totaling at least six kills.  Smith (nine kills), Kelley (eight kills), Marshall (eight kills) and Bennett (six kills) led the attack. 

Alabama State distributed the ball much better by nearly doubling up the team totals for assists.  The Lady Hornets totaled 37 assists to the Lady Golden Lions' 19 assists.  Much of that had to do with Beasley and Jones, who combined for 31 assists. 

#GOHORNETS#