India Stenson reports from Ruston, La. — The Alcorn State volleyball team heads out on a four-match road trip starting Thursday, traveling to Ruston to take on Louisiana Tech at 5:30 p.m. The Braves are seeking their first win of the season after dropping their first five matches, including last week’s home losses to Dillard University and Nicholls State University.
The matchup marks the beginning of a lengthy road stretch covering 452 miles. The teams last met on Sept. 2, 2025, with Louisiana Tech winning in three sets in Ruston. The Bulldogs are not ranked in this week’s AVCA Division I Coaches Poll Top 25, nor is Alcorn.
Alcorn’s Courtney Carter leads the team with 54 kills and eight service aces, while Jaylynn McNeill has 46 kills and 14 aces. Rylan Jones has contributed 44 kills and 28 points. Cristin Webb has 18 kills and eight aces, and Daylin Saiki has 11 kills and 130 assists, averaging 6.5 per set. The Braves are coached by interim head coach Gabrielle Harris, now in her second year.
Louisiana Tech’s Taylor Woods has 54 kills and 12 blocks, while Tyra McKinnie and Gabrielle Hairston also provide offensive firepower with 41 kills each. Emerson Traylor has 86 assists and six aces for the Bulldogs.
Following Thursday’s game, Alcorn will travel to Memphis, Tennessee, to compete in the Carrie Yerty Classic, hosted by the University of Memphis, beginning Sept. 10 at 10 a.m. Fans can follow updates on the team via Instagram at @AlcornStateVolleyball and on Twitter at @BravesSports.
