FLORENCE, Ala. — Jackson State volleyball finished its opening day at the North Alabama Tournament with a 1-1 record, after falling to North Alabama and defeating UT Martin in straight sets.
The Tigers lost in three sets to North Alabama, 17-25, 19-25, 11-25. Jackson State finished with 28 kills and 48 digs, while North Alabama hit .274 with 41 kills. Hope Briggs led JSU with eight kills, a solo block, and a block assist. Sophia McKenzie added six kills and six digs. Giannelle Asomani led the team defensively with 14 digs, and Naija Gadis posted 14 assists and six digs.
In the second match, Jackson State swept UT Martin, 25-21, 25-16, 25-21. The Tigers recorded 39 kills and a .247 hitting percentage, holding the Skyhawks to just .082. Shelby Zanders led the attack with nine kills and four blocks. Briggs hit .583 with eight kills and three blocks. Parker Featherstone and McKenzie each added six kills, and Jayla David contributed five kills and four blocks.
The Tigers used a two-setter system, with Ryleigh Davis and Kayla Troutman combining for 36 assists. Troutman also served three aces, and Asomani led the back row with 13 digs. Jackson State opened the match with a tightly contested set, breaking a 19-19 tie late to win 25-21. The Tigers then took control early in the second set and finished strong to win 25-16. They carried momentum into the third, building a 9-2 lead and eventually closing out the sweep with a final kill from David.
Jackson State’s performance showed improvements across the board, notably increasing its hitting percentage from .051 against North Alabama to .247 versus UT Martin. The team also tallied seven service aces in the second match after none in the first. Defensively, JSU recorded 16 block assists and eight team blocks, with Zanders and David each contributing four blocks.
The Tigers will face Chattanooga on Saturday at noon to conclude the tournament.
