WILMINGTON, N.C. | Jylen Whitten recorded a double-double and combined with Jada Rhodes for 40 combined kills in a 3-2 (23-25, 25-15, 25-22, 22-25, 15-12) victory over Norfolk State at the Hampton Inn and Suites Seahawk Classic on Friday afternoon.
 
Whitten finished the match with 21 kills and 10 digs, hitting .315 in the match while Rhodes finished with 19 kills (hitting .244). As a team, the Lady Hornets finished with 46 total kills including nine from A'Nylah Cobb.
 
Emily Brooks led Alabama State with 26 assists and Madison Beasley added 23, with each also added nine digs. Temperance Chatman led the defensive effort for Alabama State with 21 digs in a match where Alabama State recorded 62 as a team.
 
SET 1 | Norfolk State ran out to a quick 7-3 lead before Alabama State answered with a 3-0 run highlighted by a pair of service aces from Rhodes. Following a 3-0 from Norfolk State to push the lead to 10-6, the Lady Hornets battled to pull within one at 15-14 after a 3-0 run. The two teams traded points with the Lady Hornets tying the set up at 21-all and closed to within one at 24-23 before Norfolk State won the set.
 
SET 2 | Alabama State grabbed an early 5-2 lead in the set and pushed it to seven at 14-7 midway through the set highlighted by a service ace by Taila Gaines. A 6-1 run from the Lady Hornets highlighted by a pair of kills from Whitten pushed the lead to 22-13, before scoring three of the final four points of the set to even the match.
 
SET 3 | The two teams were even through the first 18 points of the match before a kill from Rhodes and an ace from Brooks pushed the lead to 11-9. After Norfolk State grabbed the lead at 15-14, Alabama State went on a 4-0 run with a pair of kills to grab an 18-14 lead. A 3-0 run from Alabama State pushed the lead to 22-17 before withstanding a 4-1 Norfolk State to hold a 24-21 lead before closing out the set on a Whitten kill to take a 2-1 match lead.
 
SET 4 | Just like the fourth set, the two teams were even through the first 18 points before Alabama State grabbed a 14-11 lead. The Spartans grabbed a 20-18 on a pair of kills, however, Alabama State pulled to within two at 24-22. Norfolk State was able to win the set and force a deciding set on the next point.
 
SET 5 | The two teams were tied at 5-all before Alabama State scored back-to-back points to grab a 7-5 lead. Norfolk State came back to take an 11-10 lead on a kill before Alabama State took command of the match on a 4-0 run. An ace from Gaines and a kill from Rhodes pushed the Lady Hornets to match point. Following a Spartan point and a timeout, Alabama State out the match away.
 
Up Next
Alabama State closes out the weekend with a 1 p.m. match against East Carolina on Saturday.
 
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