MONTGOMERY, Ala. | After 34 consecutive conference victories, the Alabama State University volleyball team is used to getting everyone's best in every match. They did just that when Texas Southern University visited Lockhart Gymnasium on the final day of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Roundup.
 
The Lady Tigers jumped on top of Alabama State taking the first set, and then the second to put Alabama State in a two-set hole for the first time in conference play this season.
 
However, the Lady Hornets responded by winning set three and then set four to force a winner-take-all fifth set. Alabama State was able to get ahead early in the final set and was able to hold on for a 3-2 (24-26,21-25,25-19,25-22,15-10) victory over the visitors in their final match of the Roundup Sunday to extend their conference winning streak to 35 consecutive victories. The last conference loss for Alabama State came in the 2015 conference championship game.
 
Ni'yesha Brown was one kill away from her career high, finishing with 24 kills on 67 total attacks on the day all while recording eight digs in the win. Bayle' Bennett recorded a double-double with 15 kills and 11 digs for the Lady Hornets, while Brian Dorsey recorded 14 kills while hitting .476.
 
Kori Kutsch (28) and Justus Tuiolosega (21) combined for 49 of the team's 62 assists on the day, while Tuiolosega led all Lady Hornets with 12 digs as she recorded a double-double. Kayla Torres and Asha Daniels each added 10 digs in the win, while Candace Martin led the team with six blocks. Payten Clark finished with five blocks, with Bennett adding four in the win.
 
After falling in the first two sets, the Lady Hornets came out in the third set and ran out to a seven point lead at 16-9. After Texas Southern closed the gap to four, Bennett responded with a kill for a 20-15 lead. The Lady Tigers closed to within four before Alabama State used kills from Brown and Dorsey to clinch the third set and force the fourth set.
 
In the fourth set, Alabama State fell behind midway through the set and found themselves tied 22-22 late with Texas Southern. However, Alabama State scored the final three points of the set on a pair of kills from Bennett to force the fifth and deciding set.
 
In the fifth set, Alabama State ran out to a 5-2 lead early and extended the lead to four at 12-8. After Texas Southern closed to within a pair at 12-10, the Lady Hornets once again scored the final three points of the set as they forced three Texas Southern errors for the come-from-behind victory.
 
Alabama State returns to action Sunday on the road at Mississippi Valley State University and Monday at Alcorn State University. The Lady Hornets need just a pair of victories in conference play to clinch the East Division after Alabama A&M fell in their final SWAC Roundup match Sunday.
 
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