Jackson, Miss. – Alabama State controlled the momentum from wire-to-wire in the 3-0 (25-21, 25-21, 25-12) win over Texas Southern in Southwestern Athletic Conference volleyball action inside of the Jackson State Convention Center on Saturday night.
 
The Lady Hornets (10-18, 7-6 SWAC) bounced back from a heartbreaking loss against Southern earlier in the day with a dominating performance against the Tigers (6-14, 6-6 SWAC) as the team hit .250 tallying 34 kills.
 
Junior Taira Cottingham led the way offensively with a team-high nine kills on a career-high .467 hitting percentage. Sophomore Taryn King secured seven kills with a match-high .500 clip and two blocks.
 
Junior McKenzie Boland paced the offense with a match-high 26 assists while freshman Emersen Belles led the defense with 10 digs alongside a match-high three service aces.
 
Set One (Alabama State 25, Texas Southern 21)
The Lady Hornets could find an offensive rhythm early as they hit .167 with 11 kills while the Tigers recorded 12 kills on a .280 hitting percentage. Alabama State started the match with a 3-0 deficit but the difference in the set was the four Texas Southern service errors and three service aces from Belles that allowed the Lady Hornets to grab set one.
 
Set Two (Alabama State 25, Texas Southern 21)
After a slow start, Alabama State regrouped and controlled the rest of the momentum, hitting .233 with 12 kills while holding the Tigers to a .171 hitting percentage. Alabama State trailed 6-5 then went on a 6-0 run that allowed the Lady Hornets to gain a comfortable lead that it would not relinquish.
 
Set Three (Alabama State 25, Texas Southern 12)
The Lady Hornets took all their momentum from the second set into the third as the team hit a blistering .400 percentage with 11 kills while holding the Tigers to a -.154 clip with 10 errors and just six kills. Alabama State only committed three errors in 20 attempts.
 
Up Next
Alabama State will wrap up the SWAC East Roundup with a 12:30 p.m. contest against Grambling State on Sunday.
 
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