Montgomery, Ala. – Alabama State volleyball begins Southwestern Athletic Conference play with the SWAC West Roundup held at Prairie View A&M from Friday through Sunday.
 
The Lady Hornets will face Texas Southern (10 a.m.) and UAPB (3 p.m.) on Friday then play host Prairie View A&M (12:30 p.m.) and Southern University (5:30 p.m.) on Saturday. Alabama State will wrap up the roundup with 10 a.m. match against Grambling State on Sunday morning.
 
Alabama State (3-11) is coming off a tough weekend at the Wildcat Classis where the Lady Hornets dropped all three matches against Arizona (0-3), Sacramento State (0-3) and New Mexico State (0-3). In the final match of the Classic, Alabama State started off slow which gave New Mexico State enough momentum to slip away on Saturday.
 
In the match, Junior E'laisah Young led the way with a team-high nine kills on a .471 hitting percentage with a game-high tying four blocks and two digs. Junior Taira Cottingham followed behind with eight kills (.400 hitting) and two digs.
 
On the season, senior Bayle' Bennett leads the way offensively with 152 kills averaging 3.10 per set with 12 service aces, second-highest on the team. Fellow classmate Krysta Medearis follows behind with 127 kills (2.59/set) with a .212 hitting percentage.
 
Defensively, freshman Emersen Belles leads the team with 148 digs averaging 3.02 per set while junior E'laisah Young posts as an all-around threat with a team-high 30 blocks (seven solo), 23 digs and 66 kills (1.38/set) with a .306 hitting percentage. Additionally, Belles leads the team with 13 service aces.
 
Young Named SWAC Newcomer of the Week
Young was an all-around threat the past week as she finished with 20 kills with a .400 hitting percentage, seven digs, and a team-high nine blocks including one solo. Young posted back-to-back .400 or better hitting percentage against Sacramento State (.455) and New Mexico State (.471).
 
Scouting the Opponents
Texas Southern
Overall: 1-8
Last Match: vs. Washington State, 0-3 (9-25, 25-27, 9-25)
Streak: L7
Kills: Alexis Austin, 65 total kills, 2.32/set
Digs: Valencia Grayson, 100 total digs, 3.13/set
Assists: Breyanna York, 180 total assists, 5.45/set
Blocks: Atira Jells, 15 total blocks, one solo
 
UAPB
Overall: 0-12
Last Match: vs. Middle Tennessee State, 0-3 (20-25, 21-25, 15-25)
Streak: L12
Kills: Kaila Robinson, 50 total kills, 1.52/set
Digs: Kaila Robinson, 77 total digs, 2.33/set
Assists: Elyssa Kennedy, 111 total assists, 3.83/set
Blocks: Haley Gomez, 20 total blocks
 
Prairie View A&M
Overall: 0-14
Last Match: vs. UT Arlington, 0-3 (20-25, 24-26, 20-25)
Streak: L14
Kills: Victoria Pearson, 134 total kills, 2.53/set
Digs: Skyla Childs, 221 total digs, 4.17/set
Assists: Jakarta Hope, 202 total assists, 4.93/set
Blocks: Victoria Pearson, 31 total blocks, seven solos
 
Southern
Overall: 0-12
Last Match: vs. Troy, 1-3 (17-25, 12-25, 25-19, 25-17)
Streak: L12
Kills: Shelby Jolly, 72 total kills, 1.89/set
Digs: Princess Stark, 93 total digs, 2.21/set
Assists: Princess Stark, 255 total assists, 6.07/set
Blocks: Arabella Hall, 36 total blocks, 11 solos
 
Grambling State
Overall: 2-9
Last Match: vs. ULM, 0-3 (18-25, 24-26, 17-25)
Streak: L2
Kills: Chasity Nicks, 37 total kills, 2.47/set
Digs: Kabria Dame, 73 total digs, 3.17/set
Assists: Kalee Cadwell, 77 total assists, 3.35/set
Blocks: Linzy Woods, 23 total blocks, one solo
 
 
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