Montgomery, Ala. – Alabama State fought back after falling in the first set but could not hold on and dropped a tough 3-2 (19-25, 25-23, 25-20, 23-25, 14-16) decision to Alabama A&M in Southwestern Athletic Conference volleyball action on Friday evening in Lockhart Gymnasium.
 
The Lady Hornets (14-21, 11-7 SWAC) recorded 72 kills on a .233 hitting percentage but the Bulldogs (16-13, 13-3 SWAC) held on with 64 kills and a .287 while posting eight team blocks and 65 digs.
 
Senior Bayle' Bennett recorded her 15th double double of the season with a game- and career-high 21 kills on .212 hitting percentage with 10 digs. Additionally, on senior night she secured two service aces and two blocks.
 
Junior E'laisah Young followed behind with 14 kills on a blistering .448 clip while locking up on defense with a match-high six blocks. Senior Krysta Medearis (13) and junior Taira Cottingham (11) joined the duo in double-digit kills.
 
Junior McKenzie Boland posted a career-high 52 kills (one away from the match high) with two digs, a kill, a block and a service ace. Freshman Emersen Belles led the defense with a match-high 22 digs.
 
Set One (Alabama State 19, Alabama A&M 25)
The first set was controlled by A&M as the Bulldogs led wire-to-wire hitting .290 while also dropping three service aces. Despite not being able to tie or take a lead, the Lady Hornets stuck close with A&M midway through the set as the team hit .276 with four team blocks. Alabama A&M took a 6-0 lead to open the match that it would not relinquish.
 
Set Two (Alabama State 25, Alabama A&M 23)
Trailing 18-14, Alabama State reeled off a 5-0 run to take a commanding 19-18 lead. After two more ties, the Lady Hornets used two kills and an error to create enough room to hold on for the set win. Alabama A&M recorded a better hitting percentage (.212), more digs (10) and dropped three service aces but Alabama State secured 16 kills to claim the set.
 
Set Three (Alabama State 25, Alabama A&M 20)
The Lady Hornets carried all their momentum into the third set as the team hit a blistering .371 with 16 kills and only three errors. Additionally, Alabama State secured 16 digs with two team blocks to take a 2-1 lead. Young was on a tear in the third as she posted six kills on an errorless .750 hitting percentage.
 
Set Four (Alabama State 23, Alabama A&M 25)
Alabama A&M kept the set close but never trailed to force a fifth set. The Bulldogs' defense helped tremendously as the team held Alabama State to a .125 hitting percentage by tallying 12 digs and four team blocks. The Lady Hornets secured 15 kills but made 10 errors that kept giving Alabama A&M momentum.
 
Set Five (Alabama State 14, Alabama A&M 16)
Set five was a battle the entire time as there were eight ties and three lead changes. Both teams battled back-and-forth before the Bulldogs held an 8-6 lead at the switch. Trailing 10-8, the Lady Hornets pulled off a 3-0 run to take an 11-10 lead. Alabama State would gain a 13-11 lead but A&M closed the game on a 5-1 run to take the match.
 
Up Next
Alabama State awaits the bracket for the 2019 SWAC Tournament held in Itta Bena, Miss., from Nov. 22-24.
 
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