Orlando | Alabama State posted its best statistical outing since August 25 across a variety of categories in a match with one of the top teams in the country Friday.

Despite setbacks against UCF (0-3) and Yale (0-3), the Lady Hornets .184 (14/87) attack rate in the early match with the Knights was the highest output since S.C. State on August 25th. Additionally, Alabama State recorded 40 digs against UCF (7-3), its highest total since Wofford (54).

Senior Candace Martin amassed 12 kills across the two matches and led the Lady Hornets (3-11) with a .358 average attack percentage.

Alabama State 0 UCF 3 (16-25, 17-25, 19-25)
The Lady Hornets competed well against a game UCF club and can extract numerous positives. Freshman Morgan Freeman earned her first start of the year and the decision paid dividends as she produced a career-high 12 digs, besting her previous high (five) against San Jose State. The Lady Hornets held a brief advantage (16-15) courtesy of a Taira Cottingham kill before eventually yielding to the hosts in the final stanza. Alabama State had three players hit .222 or better, with Cottingham (.333) Martin (.250) and freshman Taryn King (.222) at the forefront. Cottingham finished the match with 11 points to lead the Lady Hornets and Kori Kutsch finished with 24 assists.

Yale 3 Alabama State 0 (15-25, 14-25, 11-25)
Yale (7-2) outhit Alabama State .250 to .062 en route to the three-set victory. The Lady Hornets accumulated 8.5 blocks, also their highest total since August 25th. Kutsch was a dig shy of a double-double, as the senior ended the evening with 22 assists and nine digs.

Alabama State closes out the VolleyKnights Invitational tomorrow at 3 pm against Florida Gulf Coast. Follow along here.

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