ITTA BENA, Miss. - Time change was not the only thing different on the campus of Mississippi Valley State, when they hosted the Lady Jaguars of Southern University from Baton Rouge. Mississippi Valley dropped the contest 3-1, but the efforts and determination of the team could only be witnessed at R.W. Harrison Complex.
MVSU opened the contest with the first serve. Southern scored to force a side out. Going up 2-0, the set seemed to be in favor of the visiting Lady Jags. The Devilettes fought back, clawing their way back into the contest; Megan Jones and Brianna Watkins stretched themselves at the net to earn a block assist to maintain possession of the serve.
Southern's libero Diamond Williams had a serving error that swung the contest in the direction of Mississippi Valley. Late in the first rotation, Richardson had the side out block on Southern.
With Bailey Jefferson (SU) serving six straight points, Coach Douglas Hunter was forced to take his second timeout. A serving error from SU's Vaterra Calais gave the Devilettes possession at set point.
At the beginning of the second set, Nadia Crawford entered the game as the libero. It was Calais with a side tip that took the Devilettes by surprise. Southern followed with a serving error by Hall that gave Valley their second point.
A power hit by Megan Jones to Southern's libero caused a double fault, taking the score to 7-6, in favor of the Devilettes. Hustle from Jones kept an out ball into play long enough for Marissa Chalmers to give a free ball. Mississippi Valley took the lead by two points with Chalmers serving.
With Hayle Means and Megan Jones at the net the Lady Jags' front row hitters did not stand a chance. Barnes attack from back row was stopped by Hall of Southern. Great hustle after a replay point reflected a new team with great morale. Means side tip surprised herself after Crawford's dig to keep the ball in play.
Southern opened the third set with the serve, however a brilliant play by MVSU's Sydney Robinson returned the ball possession to the Devilettes. A mighty block from Chalmers sent the Lady Jaguars scrambling to catch the ball. With the score 5-3, Jones and Richardson had a block party that had Southern's libero on her side. Robinson entered to serve for Illiya Trahan. A phenomenal kill by Chalmers took the Devilettes to their 17th point over the Lady Jaguars 11 forcing Coach Jacobs (SU) take her first timeout of the game.
After a long rally that crossed each side of the court the ball fell too late judgement by Shelby Jolly. Southern's Paige Hall thought she found a spot on the court to attack the ball but she was met by Robinson who waiting on the back row. Too hard of an attack from Barnes on the outside kept the ball possession for the Lady Jaguars. She quickly made up for it by attacking a spot near the libero on the back row. All timeouts were used with the score being MVSU 23- SU 22. With the score being 24-24, Southern let a free ball cross the net so Means and Jones could attack it. MVSU scored back-to-back points to take the third.
Set four was an opportunity for MVSU to carry their momentum forward. SU went up 2-0 in what was the final set. A kill by Means scored the first point for the Devilettes, making the score 2-1. An ace by Robinson tied the game at two-all. After a vicious back-and-forth, the Lady Jags emerged with a 25-12 victory, taking the match 3-1.
