Alcorn State rallied from an early deficit in the deciding set to beat Arkansas-Pine Bluff 3-2 on Sunday in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. The Lady Braves won 25-19, 25-20, 23-25, 22-25, 15-11 at H.O. Clemmons Arena.
Courtney Carter led Alcorn with a season-high 20 kills, along with seven digs and two blocks. Rylan Jones added 17 kills and hit .412. Tomoni Giddings set a season best with 34 digs and had three service aces.
Alcorn led 10-9 in the fifth set before Arkansas-Pine Bluff tied it at 11. The Lady Braves then scored four straight points to close the match. Carter had two kills in the closing run, and Daylin Saiki added a service ace.
The Lady Braves took the first two sets but could not complete the sweep. Arkansas-Pine Bluff rallied from an 15-8 deficit in the third set, scoring nine of the next 11 points to tie it at 17, then won the set 25-23. The Golden Lions opened the fourth set with a 14-6 lead. Alcorn came back to tie it at 17, but Arkansas-Pine Bluff won 25-22 to force a deciding set.
Alcorn recorded season highs of 71 digs and 59 kills, with 10 service aces and a .270 hitting percentage. The Golden Lions hit .173. Saiki had 28 assists, six digs and two aces, while Juliana Henao added 15 assists and two aces. Arkansas-Pine Bluff was led by Ashanti Butler’s 17 kills; Kinsley Hooper had 15 digs.
The win moved Alcorn to 5-19 overall and 5-9 in Southwestern Athletic Conference play. Arkansas-Pine Bluff fell to 4-25 overall and 1-13 in the conference. Alcorn’s next scheduled match was its regular-season finale at Alabama State in Montgomery, with first serve listed for 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13.
