THE DELTA | The Mississippi Valley State University volleyball team showed determination in a competitive third set but ultimately fell to the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff in straight sets (13-25, 11-25, 23-25) Friday evening inside the R.W. Harrison HPER Complex.
The Southwestern Athletic Conference matchup also marked Senior Night for the Delta Devils, as the program recognized
Hannah St. Croix,
Dashaun Pinesette and
Ashlynn Hawkins for their contributions to Mississippi Valley State volleyball.
Aubrie Walker led the Delta Devils offensively, recording a team-high eight kills on 13 attempts for an impressive .385 hitting percentage.
Brooklyn Brunt provided a spark off the bench, finishing with seven kills and a .278 hitting percentage, including all seven of her kills during Valley's strong third-set performance.
Taylor Wooten added five kills, while senior
Hannah St. Croix contributed four kills and four total blocks, including one solo block and three block assists. Walker also played a key role at the net, recording two block assists.
Defensively,
Ashlynn Hawkins and
Dashaun Pinesette each collected eight digs, while Hawkins added two service aces. Libero
Taylor Wilson contributed eight digs, and Wooten recorded five kills to go along with a block assist.
The Delta Devils received contributions from their setters throughout the evening, with
Kameryn Browne distributing a team-high 12 assists and
Erin Mims adding nine.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff established momentum early, taking the opening set 25-13 before carrying that advantage into the second frame for a 25-11 victory.
Despite dropping the first two sets, Mississippi Valley State refused to go quietly.
The Delta Devils delivered their strongest performance of the evening in the third set, battling through 12 ties and six lead changes. Valley built an early 9-6 advantage and continued to challenge the Golden Lions behind timely kills from Brunt, Walker and Wooten.
Back-to-back kills from Brunt gave the Delta Devils an 11-10 lead before a block from Walker and St. Croix helped push Valley ahead 13-11. Hawkins later delivered a service ace to extend the advantage to 15-12.
The two teams traded points throughout the closing stretch, with Mississippi Valley State pulling even at 20-20 following an Arkansas-Pine Bluff attack error. Brunt answered another Golden Lions point with a kill to tie the set at 21-21.
Facing match point, Walker delivered a kill to bring the Delta Devils within one at 24-23, but Arkansas-Pine Bluff secured the final point to complete the sweep.
Mississippi Valley State finished the contest with 26 kills, 24 assists, three service aces and five team blocks. The Delta Devils improved their offensive production throughout the match, increasing their hitting percentage in each successive set.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff was led by Ngozi Nwosu, who finished with a match-high 13 kills and two service aces. Haley Reeves added nine kills and 14 digs for the Golden Lions.
With the result, Mississippi Valley State moves to 1-18 overall and 0-10 in conference play, while Arkansas-Pine Bluff improves to 4-21 overall and 1-9 in the SWAC.
Up Next
The Delta Devils will return to action Sunday, November 1, when they host Grambling State University at the R.W. Harrison HPER Complex. First serve is scheduled for noon.
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