Lady Tigers fall to Alabama State, to host Alabama A&M on Tuesday

HOUSTON – The Alabama State Lady Hornets outlasted Texas Southern in four sets Monday in a battle of the Southwestern Athletic Conference's last two undefeated teams in league play.
 
Scores of the match were 23-25, 25-11, 25-18, and 25-19.
 
The Lady Hornets (10-7, 7-0 SWAC) hit .242 as a team, while the Lady Tigers were held to a hitting percentage under .100 for the first time since a three-set loss at Fresno State on Sept. 9. TSU's 37 kills against 27 errors on 159 attempts gave the Lady Tigers a .063 hitting percentage for the evening.
 
Nicole Robinson led the Lady Tigers (9-9, 5-1 SWAC) with a team-high nine kills and hit .227 for the match. Kali Fluke added eight kills and two total blocks. Michaela Powell came off the TSU bench for five kills and hit a TSU-best .235 for the evening.
 
Asia Howard posted a double-double for the Lady Tigers, handing out 20 assists and digging 11 ASU attacks. Allison Woods tallied a team-high 15 digs, while Brianna McKay added 12 digs for the Lady Tigers.
 
Ni'yesha Brown knocked down a match-high 17 kills for Alabama State, followed by teammate Briana Dorsey with 14 kills. Jamie Coleman led the ASU defensive effort with 29 digs.
 
Alabama State players recorded 85 digs, the most by a TSU opponent this season, topping Idaho State's 66 digs on Sept. 3.
 
After trailing most of the opening set by two or three points, the Lady Tigers took an 18-17 lead on three consecutive points by Fluke. Fluke started the rally with a kill, then served back-to-back aces, prompting ASU to call a timeout.
 
The Lady Hornets briefly reclaimed a 20-19 lead, only for TSU to take the lead back with four unanswered points. Alexis Austin's kill and a McKay service ace were followed by consecutive ASU errors.
 
Robinson gave the Lady Tigers a 24-22 lead, and after an ASU kill, Texas Southern took the set on an ASU attack error.
 
In set two, the Lady Hornets jumped out to a 6-1 lead and never looked back as the evened the match with a 25-11 win. ASU hit .243 during the set, while the Lady Tigers hit minus-.103.
 
Both teams saved their best hitting performances for set four, but ASU's 10-3 run to finish the set gave the Lady Hornets a 25-19 win and the match.
 
TSU returns to action Tuesday when the Lady Tigers host Alabama A&M. Match time is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.