NEW ORLEANS — Alcorn State volleyball dropped both matches Saturday at the LSU New Orleans/Nicholls Challenge inside the Human Performance Center. The Braves are 0-3 after losses to Nicholls and Stonehill.
Against Nicholls, Alcorn played its first full five-set match of the season. The Braves won the first set 27-25 in a contest marked by 12 tie scores and five lead changes. They lost the second set 21-25 but responded with their best effort in the third, hitting .250 with 15 kills to take it 25-21. Alcorn led early and maintained a strong pace before falling in the fourth set 14-25. The Colonels secured the final set, winning 15-12, and clinched the match.
Rylan Jones led the Braves with 16 kills in the match, while Daylin Saiki dished out 35 assists, a season high. Nicholls was powered by outside hitters who combined for 21 kills and a .357 hitting percentage, including Kera Arrington.
In the second match against Stonehill, Alcorn struggled to contain the Skyhawks’ offense. Rylan Jones led the team with six kills, and Saiki finished with 12 assists. The Braves fell in three sets, with scores of 15-25, 21-25, and 20-25. In the second set, Alcorn held an early 16-8 lead but was overtaken by Stonehill, which hit .341 over the match. Samantha Loyd led the Skyhawks with 13 kills while hitting .684.
The Braves will return home to face Dillard University on Thursday, September 3, at noon, followed by a match against Nicholls on Friday, September 4, at 6 p.m. Fans are encouraged to follow Alcorn State Sports on Twitter (@BravesSports), Instagram (@AlcornSports), and YouTube (Braves Sports Network) for updates and behind-the-scenes content.
