MONTGOMERY, Ala. | Alabama State dropped their first Southwestern Athletic Conference match 3-1 against Jackson State on Monday afternoon in Lockhart Gymnasium.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• In a tightly contested battle, Alabama State opened the first set with a 7-4 run to take an early lead yet found themselves down moments later after a response from the Tigers to force a timeout with the score 15-11.
• Jackson State continued their stretch after the time and forced another break with the score at 19-12.
• Alabama State clawed back after the second timeout, going on a run to get within two scores, however, could not complete the comeback and dropped the first set 25-23.
• The second set was the most competitive of the match, as the teams tied on 12 occasions and saw five lead changes.
• With the score at 7-7, Alabama State sparked a run to go up 16-13, the biggest lead of the set, and force a Jackson State timeout.
• Jackson State responded with a three-point run to tie the game, however the Hornets countered and took a 20-17 moments later.
• The Tigers responded once again to tie the ball game, and the teams' traded points until a kill from Jada Rhodes (Tallahassee, Fla.) and an error from Jackson State gave the Hornets a 26-24 win.
• Alabama State started off slow in the third, falling 6-0 and 11-5 before calling their first timeout of the set.
• Jackson State continued to control the momentum after the break, going up double-digits by a score of 17-6.
• The Hornets fought back to get the game within four, however fell in the third set 25-17.
• Jackson State also started the fourth set with a run, going up 8-5 before a timeout and never trailed again in the set, taking the final set 25-15 to take the match.

MATCH NOTES

• Kalysia Bates (Phenix City, Ala.) led the Hornets on the offensive end with 10 kills, an ace and added four blocks, while Rhodes logged 11 digs, nine kills and an assist.
• Junior Emersen Belles (Gilbert, Ariz.) led the team with a season-high 25 digs on the night, while sophomore Logan Horne (Montgomery, Ala.) added 10.
• Setters Madison Beasley (Gilbert, Ariz.) and McKenzie Boland (Stockbridge, Ga.) recorded 18 and 11 assists respectively, with Beasley adding eight digs and two aces, while Boland logged 10 digs and an ace.

UP NEXT
Alabama State (4-13) returns to the court this Friday for the first SWAC Round-up of the year, as they face Southern along with Alcorn State and Prairie View on Saturday in Tallahassee.

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