GSU volleyball wins in straight sets

GSU defeated Central Baptist Wednesday.

Courtesy of GSU Athletic Communications 

The Grambling State University volleyball team returned to the court on Wednesday afternoon and got back into the win column with a 3-0 victory over Central Baptist at the Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center.

Grambling State (3-7) controlled the first set, 25-8 and took a two-set lead with a 25-14 win. The Mustangs (2-8) led early in the third set, but Grambling State closed out the match with a 25-17 victory. The Lady Tigers were scheduled to play Tougaloo College in the second match of the Exit 81 Classic, but that match was canceled.

HOW IT HAPPENED

First Set

  • Grambling State opened the match on a 10-5 run
  • A kill by Jayden James extended GSU’s lead to 14-6, forcing Central Baptist to call a timeout
  • The Mustangs were forced to call their second timeout as Grambling State pushed the lead to 19-7
  • The Lady Tigers controlled the set, scoring six out of the next seven points to pick up the 25-8 win

Second Set

  • Grambling State led 3-2 after as Central Baptist picked up a point off a service error
  • The Lady Tigers scored the next eight points to grab an 11-2 advantage after a kill by Destiny Thomas, forcing CBC to call a timeout
  • GSU continued to extend the margin, pushing the lead to 14-2 after a hitting error by Haley Gomez
  • The Mustangs tried to climb back into the set, closing the gap to 19-9
  • Grambling State closed out the set, winning 25-14

Third Set

  • The Mustangs raced out to a 4-1 advantage and extended the lead to 6-2
  • Grambling State rallied and tied the set at 11 after a kill by Adaizah Millett
  • The Lady Tigers continued to stretch the lead to 15-11 after a block by Maggie Plush
  • GSU extended the margin to 19-12
  • Central Baptist could not recover as Grambling State took the set and won the match, 25-17

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

  • Grambling State finished with 35 kills in 90 total attacks, with 14 errors (hitting .233)
  • The Lady Tigers registered 36 digs, 34 assists, 9.0 total team blocks and five service aces
  • Jayden James led the offense with seven kills and hit .235 in two sets
  • Hillary English tallied 11 assists and six digs
  • Defensively, Nyah Ellis recorded nine digs
  • Central Baptist finished with 14 kills in 97 total attacks, with 25 errors
  • The Mustangs recorded 37 digs, 13 assists, one service ace and 1.0 total team blocks
  • Madeline Freeman and Kenzie Hanks each recorded five kills
  • Mikayla Lawrence and Mallory Gossett registered 10 digs apiece

UP NEXT
Grambling State concludes non-conference play and begins Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) action on Sunday with a trip to Lorman, Miss., to take on Alcorn State. First serve is set for 1 p.m.