GRAMBLING, La. | Grambling State volleyball bounced back from a first-set setback by winning three consecutive sets Wednesday evening, earning a 3-1 victory over Nicholls at the Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center.
The Tigers fell 25-14 in the opening set before responding with wins of 25-23, 25-22 and 25-19 to improve to 2-2 on the season. Nicholls dropped to 2-2.
Grambling State's offense was led by Lyric Jordan, who recorded a team-high 12 kills on 34 attacks while hitting .324 for the match. Jordan also contributed a service ace, a solo block and four digs to finish with 14 points.
Amaris Marks added eight kills on 17 attacks and hit a team-best .353 among Grambling State players with at least 10 attempts. Bailey Hollis and Rihianna Brown each finished with four kills, while Angelique Pena added three.
Brown was particularly efficient offensively, recording four kills on six attacks without an error for a .667 hitting percentage. She also added a block and a dig.
After struggling offensively in the opening set, Grambling State found its rhythm over the final three sets. The Tigers hit .143 as a team for the match, including a .333 mark in the third set and .444 in the fourth.
Grambling State's 25-23 second-set victory evened the match before the Tigers took control with a 25-22 win in the third set. GSU closed out the match by hitting .444 in the fourth set, finishing with 13 kills and only one error on 27 attacks.
The Tigers also received strong contributions from their setters and defensive unit.
Alayna Howard led Grambling State with 18 assists, while Reece Cook added 14 assists and provided four service aces. Howard also recorded a service ace and six digs.
Hailey Botello paced the Tigers with 10 digs, while Asialin Powell added eight. Howard finished with six digs, and Lainy Evans contributed three.
Grambling State's serving game produced nine aces, with Cook leading the way with four. Avri Solik-Fifarek added three service aces despite seeing action in two sets.
The Tigers also finished with 11 total blocks. Bailey Hollis and Jaida Gray each recorded three blocks, while Hollis had one solo block and two block assists. Gray added one solo block and two assists.
Nicholls was led offensively by Kera Arrington, who posted 16 kills, while Mckenzie Mitchell recorded 11 kills and Maya Schirmer added nine. The Colonels finished with 49 kills compared with 37 for Grambling State, but the Tigers capitalized on Nicholls' 32 attack errors.
Grambling State also benefited from Nicholls committing 11 reception errors, while the Tigers committed 11 reception errors of their own.
The victory gives Grambling State its second win of the season and continues the Tigers' early-season home schedule.
UP NEXT
Grambling State returns travels to Tuscaloosa, Ala. to take on the University of Alabama on Monday, Sept. 7. First serve is set for 5 p.m. at Foster Auditorium. The match will be broadcast on SEC Network+
NOTES
• Grambling State improved to 2-2 overall with the victory.
• Nicholls fell to 2-2.
• The Tigers won three consecutive sets after dropping the opening frame.
• Lyric Jordan led Grambling State with 12 kills and 14 points.
• Rihianna Brown hit .667, recording four kills on six attacks without an error.
• Grambling State hit .444 in the fourth set.
• Reece Cook recorded a match-high four service aces.
• Grambling State finished with 11 total blocks and nine service aces.
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