Baton Rouge, La.—The SC State women's volleyball team finished second at the 26th Annual Southern University Volleyball Invitational. The tournament which was contested Friday-Saturday, October 15-16, 2010, was played at the Seymour Gymnasium on the campus of Southern University.

After dropping its opening round of the tournament to Jackson State on Friday, SC State (8-20) regrouped nicely, defeating both Alabama State and Mississippi Valley State in three sets on Saturday to finish with a 2-1 record at the end of round-robin play. By virtue of winning the tie-break over Southern (who also finished with a 2-1) record, the Lady Bulldogs advanced to the championship round to face Jackson State for the second time in the tournament.

Senior Jarne Gleaton (West Columbia, Airport HS), redshirt sophomore Shabree Roberson (Pflugerville, TX, Connally HS) and freshman Desire Waller (Houston, TX, Alief Taylor HS) were instrumental in Saturday matches that helped SC State reach the championship round. Gleaton recorded a combined 23 kills, three service aces, 13 digs, and three block-assists in wins over Alabama State and Mississippi Valley State. Roberson and Waller were equally as effective in the two matches. Roberson totaled 22 kills with two block assists and five block assists while Waller was put down a combined 23 kills with five block assists in the two matches. Junior setter Bria Brimmer (Austin, TX, Connally HS) continued to run an effective offense as she put up 72 total assists (34 vs Alabama State and 38 vs Mississippi Valley State).

In the championship round SC State fell to Jackson State, 3-1, (22-25, 29-27, 12-25, 21-25). Both teams entered the match aggressively as they were tied at 1-1 after the first two sets of the match. Jackson State dominated the Set Three as they allowed just 12 SC State kills and a hitting percentage of -.053. The Lady Bulldogs regrouped during in Set Four but the 17 kills and .222 hitting percentage were not enough to take the set ultimately giving Jackson State the 3-1 match victory.

In the match, SC State had three player's record double-digit kills led by Roberson with 18. Waller and Gleaton put down 14 and 12 kills respectively in the championship game while Brimmer put up match high 52 set assists. The Lady Bulldogs were led defensively by Melissa Robinson (Tallahassee, FL, Florida High) with 20 digs. Gleaton recorded a double-double in the championship match as she picked up 11 digs to go along with her 12 kills.

SC State will return home for the next four matches beginning Friday, Oct. 22 when they host Florida A&M at 5 p.m. SC State will then host North Carolina A&T (10/24), Norfolk State University (10/27) and Bethune-Cookman (11/5).

Tournament Notes: Senior Jarne Gleaton earned her third All-Tournament Team honor…For the weekend she recorded 46 kills, four aces, 24 digs and four total blocks (1 block solo and 3 block assists)… Earlier this year she was named to the Tiny Laster Invitational All-Tournament Team (8/28-29) and the North Carolina Central All-Tournament Team (9/24-25).