MOBILE, ALA.  – It had the makings of an exceptional prelude to the SWAC conference schedule.

The Alabama State women's volleyball team took it to host South Alabama in the opening two sets, before fading late in losing 3-1 (25-20, 22-25, 18-25, 17-25) in a nonconference match on Tuesday evening at Jaguar Gymnasium. 

The Lady Hornets came out on fire, extending low for digs, making the passes and hitting the open spots on the floor with top notch accuracy.

The play led to a 25-20 capture of the first set. 

ASU (4-10) hit an impressive .429 hitting percentage (15 kills against just three errors on 28 total attacks) and looked the part of a team ready to upset a Jaguars team that finished higher in the RPI rankings (No. 201) in 2014. 

The spread attack led to five players accumulating at least two kills for the set.

While the second set was tight, the Lady Jaguars nearly reversed roles with ASU from the opening set to hit for a .412 and pulled out a three-point win.
 
ASU dropped to a .256 hitting percentage in the set. 

The teams traded points back-and-forth for much of the third set before South Alabama (6-6) took five consecutive points about midway through to take a 19-14 advantage and got the separation it needed to take a 2-1 sets lead. 

There were 11 ties and four lead changes in the set. 

In the fourth set, South Alabama took a 13-5 lead behind a couple of kills by Katelyn Lochner and Nikki Gittens on assist from Emma Anderson.

After falling behind 20-9, ASU took five of the next six points highlighted by two Chelsey Scott kills. 

ASU cut the deficit to seven, but that would be the closest it would get the rest of the way.

Five Lady Hornets had at least eight kills.

Amber Bennett had 11 kills, Rachel Smith had nine kills and 10 digs, Scott and Kimeko Bennett had nine kills and Briana Dorsey had eight kills, four digs and three blocks.

MacDonald led the team with 28 assists while Scout Wonsang led the defense with 14 digs. 

Next, ASU will hold its season home opener against Alcorn State on Friday at 7 p.m. from Lockhart Gymnasium.

It will be Samaritan's Feet Awareness Day, a nonprofit organization with its mission to provide footwear to underprivileged children around the world. 

ASU coaches will go barefoot to Friday's match. 

#GOHORNETS#