LORMAN, Miss. | Jayden James registered a team-high 13 kills as the Grambling State University volleyball team opened Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) play on Sunday afternoon with a 3-0 victory over Alcorn State at the Davey L. Whitney Complex.

Grambling State (4-7 overall, 1-0 SWAC) won the opening set, 25-14, and held off Alcorn State in the second, 25-19. The Lady Tigers closed out the conference win with a 25-16 third-set victory.

HOW IT HAPPENED 
First Set 

• Grambling State led 4-3 after Alcorn State picked up a pair of points, but the Lady Tigers used a commanding 7-0 run, by a block by Hillary English
• Alcorn State (1-13, 0-1) closed the gap to 13-7 
• However, the Lady Tigers scored the next four points, three off service aces by James, to extend the lead to 17-7
• The Braves could not recover from the huge deficit as the Lady Tigers claimed the opening set, 25-14

Second Set 

• Alcorn State led 6-4 after a block by Faith Archibong
• Grambling State responded and used a 7-1 run, capped by a service ace by James, to grab an 11-7 advantage
• With the set tied at 12, Grambling State used an 8-2 run, capped by a kill by James, to push the lead to 20-14
• Alcorn State cut the deficit to 24-19, but Maggie Plush picked up the kill to seal the set at 25-19

Third Set 

• Alcorn State jumped out to a 6-3 lead, but GSU rallied, tying the set at seven
• The Lady Tigers used a 9-2 run, capped by a kill by Haley Gomez, to take a 16-9 advantage
• The Braves trimmed the deficit to 19-14, but GSU proved to be too much in a 25-16 victory

INSIDE THE NUMBERS 

• Grambling State finished with 35 kills in 96 total attacks, with 14 errors (hitting .219)
• The Lady Tigers tailed 51 digs, 32 assists and 11 service aces
• James led the offense with 13 kills, while hitting .226
• Hillary English added six kills
• Ana Calderon dished out 20 assists
• Defensively, Nyah Ellis recorded 11 digs, while Kai Williams added 10
• Alcorn State finished with 23 kills in 97 total attacks, with 20 errors
• The Braves registered 41 digs, 20 assists and five service aces
• Faith Archibong led the way offensively with six kills
• Ramona Pulu tallied 11 assists
• Defensively, M. Young-Mullins registered seven digs

UP NEXT 
Grambling State continues SWAC play on the road as the Lady Tigers make the trip to Baton Rouge, La., to take on rival Southern on Monday night. First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m.

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