MUNCIE, Ind. (9/10/22) – Three players registered 10 or more kills on Saturday for the Arkansas State volleyball team, but Alabama managed to take the final two sets en route to a four-set win over the Red Wolves at Worthen Arena.
Ilayda Dincer led A-State (5-4) with a career-best 15 kills on a .306 clip, while Macey Putt registered 12 kills and Kyla Wiersema finished with 10 kills and zero errors on 15 attacks. The Crimson Tide (5-4) relied upon 15 service aces to help earn the win in the weekend finale for both teams.
Lauren Musante posted her fourth double-double of the year and second in as many matches with 29 assists and 13 digs, while Sarah Martinez led all players with 15 digs. A-State knocked down 10 blocks, with Wiersema accounting for a career-best eight.
Elise Wilcox and Kassidy Reeves each served two of the Red Wolves' six aces.
SET 1 – ALABAMA 26, A-STATE 24
Arkansas State took an early 2-0 lead in the opening set before the Crimson Tide scored four straight to lead 4-2. The Red Wolves then reclaimed the edge with a 4-0 run capped by back-to-back aces by Wilcox. After Alabama retook the lead, a Wilcox kill and Reeves ace opened a 4-0 run that put A-State back ahead 17-14.
The squads traded ties and leads until back-to-back kills by Dincer forced a UA timeout. After the break, the Crimson Tide took the next two points to hold set point. Then, Dincer registered another kill to force an extended set before Alabama claimed the next two points to take an early 1-0 lead in the match.
SET 2 – A-STATE 25, ALABAMA 22
A-State came out of the set break with a 4-0 stretch after a Musante kill, then forced an early Alabama timeout after an ace by Wiersema made it 8-3. After the Crimson Tide cut the deficit to 13-9 on a kill by Laila Smith, the Red Wolves expanded their lead out to 16-9.
Another UA timeout came after a block by Putt and Wiersema made it 19-12. Alabama responded by taking 10 of the next 12 points to lead 22-21, but A-State closed the set strong with kills by Dincer, Wiersema and Wilcox, as well as a block by Dincer and Wiersema to even the match at a set apiece.
SET 3 – ALABAMA 25, A-STATE 18
The Red Wolves began the third set with an ace by Martinez, but Alabama battled back to take the lead. A kill by Dincer broke up a 6-1 UA run before a Reeves ace cut it to 14-12 and forced a timeout.
After the break, Alabama expanded its lead back out to five at 17-12. A Putt kill cut it to 18-14, then Alabama closed the set with seven of the last 11 points to take the set 25-18 and lead 2-1 in the contest.
SET 4 – ALABAMA 25, A-STATE 16
The teams traded leads early in the set, as a block by Dincer and Wiersema gave A-State a 7-6 lead. Alabama then surged ahead 11-7 with a 5-0 run, but the Red Wolves worked the deficit down to two. A 7-0 stretch increased the Crimson Tide's lead out to 21-11 before A-State battled back to make it 22-15. Alabama then clinched the match with three of the final four points.
NEXT UP
A-State returns to action next Friday and Saturday in Nacogdoches, Texas, at the SFA Tournament to close non-conference play. The field includes Eastern Washington, Texas A&M-Commerce and hosts Stephen F. Austin.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Fans can follow the team on Twitter (@AStateVB) and Instagram (astatevb) along with liking the Arkansas State Red Wolves Volleyball page on Facebook for the latest news and updates regarding the team.
