Albany State volleyball now ranked No. 2, secures 20th win

Staff Reports

ALBANY — Albany State’s volleyball team earned national recognition this week, then delivered another reason to keep watching.

The Lady Golden Rams, ranked No. 2 in the inaugural Black College Sports Network HBCU Volleyball Rankings, defeated Allen in four sets Wednesday to reach 20 victories and extend their winning streak to 11 matches.

Albany State improved to 20-8 overall and 14-1 in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference with the 25-17, 23-25, 25-23, 25-9 road victory at Adams Gymnasium in Columbia, S.C. It is the program’s first 20-win season since the 2023-24 campaign.

For coach Verniece Graham, the ranking recognizes the work already invested. The larger prize remains ahead.

“Our goal is not simply to be ranked among the best, but to compete for championships,” Graham said.

The BCSN rankings evaluate HBCU programs across NCAA Division I, Division II and NAIA. Based on competition through Oct. 18, Albany State earned a score of 76.20, narrowly behind top-ranked Fayetteville State’s 76.63.

West Virginia State, Livingstone and Virginia State completed the top five.

“Being recognized among the top HBCU volleyball programs is a testament to the hard work, discipline, and commitment our student-athletes demonstrate every day,” Graham said.

That discipline faced a test Wednesday when Allen recovered from an opening-set loss to tie the match and pushed Albany State deep into the third set.

The Lady Golden Rams responded by winning the third 25-23, then left little doubt in the fourth.

Albany State produced 14 kills and hit .407 in the final set, overwhelming Allen 25-9. The hosts managed just four kills and a negative-.115 hitting percentage as the Lady Golden Rams closed out the match.

Jarianis Perez led Albany State with 13 kills on a .375 hitting percentage, adding 10 digs and two service aces. Amiria Anderson supplied 12 kills and hit .429.

Their production helped the Lady Golden Rams regain control after an uneven start. Albany State hit .353 while winning the opening set 25-17, but its offense faltered in the second as Allen pulled even with a 25-23 victory.

The pivotal third set brought a stronger response. Albany State recorded 15 kills to edge Allen, setting up its decisive finishing burst.

The offense extended well beyond its two leading hitters.

Shaniya Banks contributed eight kills on a .429 hitting percentage, along with three solo blocks and two block assists. Aleiah Carr added seven kills, while Maya Ogbogu finished with six kills, three aces and five solo blocks.

Trinity Britt distributed a team-high 25 assists, and Liannette Burgos added 20 assists and three aces. Myra Lopez anchored the back row with 15 digs.

Albany State finished with 50 kills, 50 assists and 10 aces while hitting .243.

The Lady Golden Rams return to the Jones Brothers HPER Complex on Tuesday to face Clark Atlanta at 6 p.m. With 20 victories secured and a national ranking beside its name, Albany State will look to extend its streak and continue building toward the SIAC championship chase.