UAPB Volleyball Drops Heartbreaker to Alabama A&M in SWAC Cluster

Laila Ari

PINE BLUFF, AR – The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff volleyball team, hosting the first SWAC cluster of the 2023 season fell to the Alabama A&M Bulldogs 3-2 (25-21, 13-25, 20-25, 26-24, 11-15) Sunday at home at H.O. Clemmons Arena.

The Lady Lions were led by a double-double from Zykia Jones, who registered 22 kills (career high) and 17 digs on the day. Aleria Lane also added eight kills to help the offense. On the defensive end, Camille Johnson chipped in for with 15 digs to go with four blocks from Ashanti Butler.

Game Notes

» UAPB had four players in double figures in digs.
» Lyla Jones had a team-high two aces in the loss.
» Zykia Jones registered a double-double with 22 kills and 17 digs
» Zykia Jones had a match-high 22 kills for UAPB.
» UAPB got a match-high 17 digs from Zykia Jones.
» UAPB attackers were helped by a team-high 22 assists from Anaiah Jordan.

How It Happened

SET 1 | The Lady Lions opened up an early one set to none lead, winning the first set 25-21. UAPB grabbed the advantage for good at 15-14 in a set that showcased two lead changes before the Lady Lions took over in the second half of the stanza. UAPB also supplemented their offense with three aces in the opening set.

SET 2 | UAPB then fell in the second set 25-13, evening things at a set each. The Lady Lions lost the first point and never took the lead before dropping the set.

SET 3 | UAPB fell again in set three to make it a 2-1 deficit. The Lady Lions lost the first point and never clawed back into the lead before losing the set 25-20.

SET 4 | UAPB bounced back and forced a fifth set with a 26-24 victory in set number four. The Lady Lions persevered in a back-and-forth set to win in a stanza that featured four lead changes and was tied 10 times. Neither team was able to grab a lead larger than four points along the way.

SET 5 | After dropping sets two and three, UAPB won set four, tying things up at 2-2 to force a fifth set, but couldn’t complete the comeback, losing the set 15-11 and the match 3-2. The Lady Lions were in it until the end of the set, holding the lead at 11-10 before Alabama A&M rallied to grab a win in the stanza.