PINE BLUFF, AR – Back on their homecourt since the spring, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff volleyball team completed the sweep of 3-0 (25-10, 25-22, 25-14) over Lane College, gaining their first season victory Tuesday evening at H.O. Clemmons Arena.
Sophomore Zyonn Smith and junior Kori Diego lead the team in kills, combining for 14 kills combined and seven apiece, followed by sophomore Maria Ramos with six kills in the victory.
Junior Nikole Akamine served the volleyball on point in tonight's contest, collecting a game-high of three aces for the Lady Lions, with juniors Breana August and Kaila Robinson collecting an ace of their own.
Akamine also lived in her selfless environment, setting her teammates up for hits and finishing the game with a game-high of 18 assists. Junior Vanessa Collins followed Akamine's unselfish mindset and would have 16 assists to contribute to the Lady Lions' victory.
On the defensive side of the ball, Diego, who currently leads the SWAC (Southwestern Athletic Conference) in blocks, had six massive rejections in the contest, making it known that she is not here to play.
Happy to be back at home and looking to snap their losing streak, the Lady Lions brought the energy during warmups before the match would begin. Freshman Jayden James' brought the aggression early in the match, getting the first Lady Lion point from a powerful kill. James' early energy resulted in five kills in the first set along with an ace. The Lady Lions would win the first set with a score of 25-10.
In the second set, Diego began to make her presence known with a massive kill to put the opposing team on notice that she was in the building to dominate. She would then make her landmark, using her vertical and length for two back-to-back kills high above the net to get the second set momentum going for the Lady Lions. Junior Destiny Thomas duplicated Diego's back-to-back kills with two of her own, along with Smith looking to win the set. A Ramos kill from an Akamine assist brought the Lady Lions to one point away from winning the set. An attack error from Lane sealed the second set with a score of 25-22.
Looking to finalize the sweep, UAPB went on an 8-0 run to gain a massive lead over Lane. Dragon errors and the Lady Lions' ability to read plays led to a third set victory with a score of 25-14, sealing the 3-0 sweep over Lane College.
UAPB head coach Chelsey Lucas was impressed by what she saw on the floor tonight from her team. "I always preach to my girls that we have to play at a high level but play right, and that's why we came out with a victory tonight," said Lucas about her expectations for her team.
UAPB volleyball will prepare to head to Memphis to compete in the Memphis Invitational, taking on Memphis at 11 a.m. and Tennessee at Martin at 5 p.m. on Friday.
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