BIRMINGHAM, AL – The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff women's volleyball team completed a sweep against the Alcorn State Braves in the first round of SWAC tournament play with a final score of 3-0 (25-21, 25-19, 25-16) Friday evening at the Birmingham CrossPlex.
SWAC Player of the Year Zyonn Smith led the Lady Lions in kills, gaining 13 kills with junior Destiny Thomas adding 12 kills and All-SWAC first team and SWAC Blocker of the Year Haley Gomez with seven kills. Sophomore Nyah Ellis dominated the match, leading with 17 digs followed by junior Kaila Robinson and Gomez's eight digs a piece. All-SWAC second team Nikole Akamine played a selfless game and led the Lady Lions with 17 assists and sophomore Elyssa Kennedy was right behind Akamine with 15 assists. Leading the Lady Lions on the defensive end was junior Destiny Thomas with two blocks and sophomore Jasmine Fuqua and Robinson each added an impressive block for the Lady Lions.
A quick 2-0 start would get the Lady Lions energy pumping with a quick kill from Robinson and block from Gomez and Fuqua to start the match. Huge plays from Smith opened up the point spread for the Lady Lions. However, Alcorn State would fight back and get as close as three, but with errors on the Lady Braves end, the Lady Lions took the first set with a score of 25-21.
The Lady Lions would not let up in the second set jumping out to a quick 5-0 lead over Alcorn State. Both Smith and Gomez then took over the set with Robinson's energy fueling the team to a second set victory with a score of 25-19 and advancing to a 2-0 lead over the Lady Braves.
The Lady Braves would give all they had in the third set hoping to stay alive, but immaculate plays from Thomas and Fuqua with Akamine's mark on each play would seal the third set victory with a score of 25-16 and completed the 3-0 sweep over the Lady Braves.
"It's all about staying together and knowing why we do what we love", said UAPB head coach Chelsey Lucas about the team victory over Alcorn State in the first round.
The Lady Lions will take on the Prairie View A&M Panthers tomorrow in the semi-finals of SWAC tournament play at 4 p.m. at the Birmingham CrossPlex.
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