The 2012 season did not start exactly how the Alabama State University (0-2) volleyball team wanted it to as they dropped their first two games of the ISTAP Collegiate Cup.

In the final game of day one, the Lady Hornets fell to Tennessee State (1-1) 3-0 as the young Lady Hornets played too inconsistent to compete with the more seasoned Lady Tigers.

TSU won game one 25-15, and in game two the Lady Hornets actually led 6-4 before their youth and inexperience began to show. TSU went on a 15-4 run to build a 19-10 lead before cruising in for the 25-16 win. TSU finished the match with a 25-14 win in game three for the straight game win.

Naomi Watts had 14 kills and Sherryce Butler had 12 as the Lady Tigers ended the match hitting .413. Erika Moss had 32 assists.

Chelsey Scott had eight kills and Rachel Smith added seven for ASU. Brooke Beasley had 24 assists and Smith also chipped in with eight digs.

The Lady Hornets started five freshmen and a sophomore and their libero was a junior so the youth of the team showed during their first day of matches, but they also showed some glimpses of the talent they have.

“I think my kids are starting to understand the up tempo of division I volleyball,” head coach Penny Lucas-White said. “They see how fast the game is, they have to catch up to the game, but I am more pleased with how they competed in the second game verses earlier today.”

“Tennessee State is a very well seasoned team and we are going to have to learn how to endure in staying in one ball in one point at one time. We showed a lot of signs of our youth, but even in showing their youth they showed signs of greatness and it really doesn’t matter because that is what preseason is all about. We make our mistakes, we make our adjustments so we will come back and make quite a few adjustments and I think you will see a better Alabama State team.” Read more…