Mississippi Valley State lost to Arkansas-Pine Bluff in straight sets Friday, 25-13, 25-11, 25-23, in a Southwestern Athletic Conference volleyball match at the R.W. Harrison HPER Complex. The match also marked Senior Night for the Delta Devils, who recognized Hannah St. Croix, Dashaun Pinesette and Ashlynn Hawkins.
The Delta Devils’ closest challenge came in the third set, which featured 12 ties and six lead changes. Mississippi Valley State led 9-6 and later moved in front 13-11 after a block by Aubrie Walker and St. Croix. Hawkins’ service ace extended the lead to 15-12.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff worked back into the set, and the teams were tied 20-20 after a Golden Lions attack error. Brooklyn Brunt’s kill made it 21-21. With Mississippi Valley State facing match point, Walker’s kill cut the deficit to 24-23, but Arkansas-Pine Bluff took the next point to finish the match.
Walker led Mississippi Valley State with eight kills on 13 attempts, a .385 hitting percentage, and added two block assists. Brunt had seven kills, all in the third set, and hit .278. St. Croix recorded four kills and four total blocks, including one solo block and three assists.
Pinesette and Hawkins each had eight digs. Hawkins also served two aces. Taylor Wilson added eight digs, while Kameryn Browne led the Delta Devils with 12 assists and Erin Mims had nine. Mississippi Valley State finished with 26 kills, 24 assists, three aces and five team blocks.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s Ngozi Nwosu recorded a match-high 13 kills and two aces. Haley Reeves had nine kills and 14 digs. The result put Mississippi Valley State at 1-18 overall and 0-10 in conference play; Arkansas-Pine Bluff moved to 4-21 and 1-9 in the SWAC.
The Delta Devils’ next scheduled match was Sunday, Nov. 1, against Grambling State at the R.W. Harrison HPER Complex. First serve was listed for noon.
