Montgomery, AL—The SC State women's volleyball team picked up its first two wins of the 2009 season as they went 2-1 at the MEAC/SWAC Tournament. The tournament, which was held Friday-Saturday, Sept. 11-12, was hosted by Alabama State University.
On day one of the tournament, SC State fell to Alabama A&M, 3-1, (16-25, 25-23, 20-25, 21-25). Junior Jarne Gleaton (West Columbia, SC/Airport HS) led way with nine kills, eight digs and one block solo. Sophomore Peri Ligons (Austin, TX, Connally HS) and freshman Jade Sanford (Dallas, TX/Skyline HS) each had eight kills in the match. Sophomore Bria Brimmer (Austin, TX, Connally HS) ran the offensive attack putting up 36 assists in the loss.
The Lady Bulldogs faced Alabama State and Mississippi Valley State on day two of the tournament. In the first match of the day, SC State (2-8) defeated Alabama State, 3-0 (25-18, 25-18, 25-16). The Lady Bulldogs displayed solid offense and defense in the match as they recorded 41 kills and six total team blocks. Gleaton once again led the way with 10 kills and three block assists. Sanford contributed nine kills with five blocks (1 block solo-4 block assists) while Ligons and senior Brittany Davis (Myrtle Beach, SC, Socastee HS) had seven and eight kills respectively. Brimmer continued to run an effective offense with 34 set assists.
In its final match of the tournament, SC State came back from a two-set deficit to defeat Mississippi Valley State, 3-2, (25-23, 25-19, 25-23, 25-20, 23-21). For the first time this season the Lady Bulldogs had three players to record double-digit kills led by Davis with 17. Freshman Elizabeth Webb (Plano, TX/Plano HS) had 13 and Gleaton had 12 kills respectively in the victory. Davis had an outstanding all-around game as she added two service aces and four total blocks (3 block solo-1 block assist) to her totals. Brimmer tied her career high in assist with 46.
For the weekend, the Lady Bulldogs recorded 135 kills and 17 team blocks.
SC State will open their home season this weekend, Friday-Saturday, Sept. 18-19, when they host the SC State Spikefest. The tournament, which is set to begin at 11 am on Friday, will be held in the Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center on the campus of State. SC State will host the Citadel in their first match of the weekend at 11 am. The tournament is free and open to the public.
