JACKSON, MISS. – Conference play is back on tap as the Alabama State volleyball team travels to play at Jackson State for a SWAC match between two of the top teams in the East Division on Monday at 7 p.m.

The Lady Hornets (14-12, 3-1 SWAC) finished out the month of October with an 8-1 record, but began their current eight-match winning streak back on Oct. 9 against these same Lady Tigers.

In the team's last meeting with one another, Jackson State (8-20, 4-1 SWAC) took a set against ASU on their home floor to even the match at a set apiece before ASU turned up their play in the next two sets to win in four. 

Alabama State hit .243 and .207 in the last two sets while Jackson State hit .222 in the third set and then minus 0.38 in the fourth. 

Lorena Rosario and Briana Dorsey both had big games for the Lady Hornets as each player tallied 11 kills apiece. 

Alexsis Ford paced the Lady Tigers with 16 kills.

Since that match, however, Jackson State has turned it around by winning seven of their previous eight matches including sweeps against Grambling State, Arkansas Pine-Bluff, Texas Southern and Alcorn State. 

JSU also defeated Prairie View A&M and Alabama A&M in four sets.    It beat Alabama A&M again in five sets.  

It lost to Southern in four sets. 

JSU has won 19 of 24 sets since last facing ASU. 

However, Alabama State has been even better during the same time frame.

The Lady Hornets have won 21 of 24 sets, dropping just one set to Southern and two sets to Texas Southern in the SWAC Round-Up. 

ASU has swept five of its prior seven opponents.   
 
"It's bigger than anything," said ASU coach Penny Lucas-White of the ASU-JSU rivalry.

"They [Jackson State] were the reigning two-time champs prior to us winning for the first time. It's very intense.  You would think it was our in-state rival.  That's the one game that I don't have to worry about that my kids will be excited to play.  It's going to be a great match.  That's for sure especially with us both fighting for a higher seed."  
  
LEADERS

Alabama State: Myla Marshall 177 kills, Tiara Kelley 2.16 kills per set, Riley MacDonald 417 assists (4.58 assists per set), Scout Wonsang 263 digs (2.99 digs per set), Myla Marshall 111 total blocks (1.21 blocks per set), Smith 27 aces (0.30 aces per set). 

Jackson State: Taija Thomas 294 kills (3.23 kills per set), Jenna Siddiqui 678 assists (7.37 assists per set), Tyler Moorer 277 digs (3.04 digs per set), Mikayla Rolle 80 total blocks (0.87 blocks per set), Siddiqui 26 aces (0.28 aces per set).

#GOHORNETS#