Oct. 26, 2007

Baton Rouge, LA - The 23rd Annual Southern University Invitational volleyball tournament started today in Seymour Gymnasium and ended with a bang.

In game one Mississippi Valley State University came out strong and defeated the Lady Hornets of Alabama State University 3-0. Valley was led by Shatara Baydak who recorded 15 kills while ASU was led by Shajuana Pina with eight kills.

Game two provided the 250 in attendance a little more action as the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff Lady Lions lost the first game to Jackson State University 30-28 but overcame mistakes to take game two 31-28. But Jackson State was too deep and too strong for UAPB as they showed it in games three and four winning the match 3-1. Brittany Larkin and Amanda Daniels led the way for J-State by recording 13 kills a piece. Pine Bluff's Jenitra Shields ended the game with 18 kills leading all scorers.

Tournament host Southern University saw their first action of the tournament as they took on Alabama State. After two hours and 10 minutes SU managed to break a 12-game losing streak dating back to September 14th 2007 winning a nail bitter three games to two. SU's Ena Payne had a career high 23 kills to lead all scores in the match. Diane Chavis finished the game with her first double double of her career with 10 kills and 13 digs. Once again Alabama State's Shajuana Pina led the Lady Hornets with 13 kills. The lost gives Alabama State an 0-2 record in officially knocks them out of the championship game running.

Game four saw the Lady Bulldogs of Alabama A&M University in action for the first time in the invitational. Their challenger was Jackson State University. The match saw the Lady Bulldogs in control of games one and two but J-State refused to go out in three winning 30-28. Alabama A&M came back and took game four 30-22 and the match three games to one. A&M's Brittani Lewis led the way for the Bulldogs with 15 kills. Amanda Lewis put up 12 kills for Jackson State to lead them in their first lost of the 23rd invitational.

The final match saw the Lady Jaguars looking for their second straight victory of the day but it was not to be as the Devilettes of Mississippi Valley took game five three games to one. Ena Payne finished with 15 kills but it was Shatara Baydak who stole the show recording a day high 24 kills to lead all scorers on the day.

After a successful first day amazingly the 10:00 and 12:00 games have not been decided yet. There are two scenarios in place. If Arkansas-Pine Bluff losses to Alabama A&M in the 8:00 a.m. match tomorrow morning then SU plays at 10:00 a.m. vs. A&M and Mississippi Valley will play Jackson State at 12:00 p.m. for a chance to advance to the championship game. If Arkansas Pine Bluff defeats A&M then their will be a three way tie between A&M, J-State, UAPB in Pool A. Once the tie is broken Southern, which is currently second in Pool B will play the winner of Pool A at 10:00 while Mississippi Valley will play the runner-up from Pool A at 12.

All games will be played in Seymour Gymnasium and the event is free and open to the public.

Ena Payne attemps another kill.