DENTON, Texas | The Grambling State University volleyball team began its 2021 season on Friday afternoon as the Lady Tigers dropped a pair of matches at the North Texas Invite, falling 3-0 to South Dakota State and McNeese State.
 
Match 1
South Dakota State 3, Grambling State 0
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Jackrabbits took the opening set, 25-12, after committing just one error in 30 attacks
- South Dakota State extends the advantage to 2-0 with a 25-9 set second victory, forcing Grambling State to nine attacking errors
- SDSU swept the match 25-12 in the third set with 13 kills and hit 0.357 in the frame
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- Rayven McKenzie paced the GSU offensive attack with seven kills
- Kalee Cadwell registered 10 assists
- Jada Taylor recorded a team-high 13 digs
- Grambling State finished with 22 kills and 20 errors in 83 total attacks
- Crystal Burk led SDSU with a team-high 10 kills
- Carly Wedel tailed 24 assists
- Tatum Pickar led the way defensively with 13 digs
- South Dakota State registered 35 kills and seven errors in 81 total attacks
- The Lady Tigers recorded 23 digs, 18 assists and three services aces
- The Jackrabbits finished with 30 assists, 29 digs and nine service aces
 
Match 2
McNeese State 3, Grambling State 0
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Cowgirls held off the Lady Tigers in the opening set, 25-16
- McNeese finished with 12 kills and four service aces in the second set to grab a 2-0 lead after a 25-16 win in the second set
- Grambling State tried to fight from behind, but could not overcome five attacking errors in a 25-17 third-set loss
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- Saige Rivers and Semira Fields each registered five kills to lead the offensive attack for Grambling State
- Kalee Cadwell added six assists
- Kalee Cadwell and Jada Taylor combined for 13 digs to pace the Lady Tigers defense
- Grambling State finished with 22 kills and 13 errors in 81 total attacks
- Aryn Johnson led McNeese State with 10 kills
- Baylee Laskoskie chipped in with a team-high 13 assists
- Regan Stiawalt, Laskoskie, Johnson and Bailey Tillman each recorded five digs
- McNeese State registered 38 kills and 11 errors in 107 total attacks
- The Lady Tigers recorded 24 digs, 17 assists and three services aces
- The Cowgirls finished with 27 assists, 29 digs and 11 service aces
 
NEWS & NOTES
- Grambling State went 8-9 overall during the Spring 2021 COVID-19 season
- Jada Taylor was named the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Preseason Libero/Defensive Player of the Year
- Grambling State was slated to have its home opener on Tuesday against Jarvis Christian, but that match has been cancelled
- The Lady Tigers' 2021 home opener is now set for Tuesday, Sept. 7 against Centenary College.
 
UP NEXT
Grambling State concludes play at the North Texas Invite against host North Texas with a 1 p.m. match at the Mean Green Volleyball Center.
 
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