Box Score After a tough start to the season, Talladega College's women's volleyball team finally broke through Thursday night. The Tornadoes earned their first win of the year with a 3–1 victory over Stillman College inside Birthright Alumni Hall, taking the match by scores of 25–22, 21–25, 29–27, and 25–18.
It wasn't just a win in the standings — it was a statement about the team's resilience.
Head coach Janay Yancey said the way her group opened the match set the tone.
"What I liked most was how we came out determined to set the tone right away," Yancey said. "We've emphasized in practice starting matches with energy and focus, and tonight we did that. Even when Stillman made their pushes, our group did a great job of regaining control and keeping positive momentum on our side."
Talladega came out strong in the first set, but Stillman answered in the second to tie the match at 1–1. The real battle came in the third, a back-and-forth stretch that saw both teams trading points deep into extra play. The Tornadoes eventually pulled it out, 29–27, in what proved to be the decisive set. "That third set was the match," Yancey said. "We could have folded after losing the second, but instead we dug in, trusted each other, and made winning plays. That gave us the confidence to close it out in the fourth."
From there, Talladega didn't look back, controlling the fourth set and finishing off the Tigers with a 25–18 win.
Outside hitter
Taquoia Rounds carried the load on offense, finishing with 18 kills, 12 digs, and 3 blocks. Setter
Laela Price directed the attack with 36 assists and six aces, while libero
Briyith Echeverri was a rock on defense, collecting 26 digs. At the net,
Kortni Johnson provided a spark in key moments, putting away 7 kills on .583 hitting and adding 3 blocks.
Jadah Powell (9 kills, 5 digs) and
Azha Dudley (6 kills, 2 blocks) gave the Tornadoes reliable production on the pins.
Yancey said the mix of contributions is exactly what she's been hoping for.
"
Taquoia Rounds carried a heavy load for us offensively, and
Laela Price really set the tone with her decision-making and serving," Yancey said. "Briyith gave us the backbone in the back row, and our middles made critical plays when we needed them most. Kortni was huge tonight, especially in those tight moments, and Jadah and Azha gave us steady production on the pins. That kind of balance across the board is what we need night after night."
The win improved Talladega to 1–7 overall and 1–0 in conference play, a much-needed boost as the Tornadoes look to reset their season.
"This was an important first step in conference play," Yancey said. "Getting a road win at the beginning of the season shows what we're capable of, but it also reminds us of the work still ahead. We want to keep building on this momentum."
Talladega will return to action September 20 against Wilberforce University looking to carry Thursday night's energy into the rest of their conference schedule.
