BIRMINGHAM, AL – With the energy level low and facing elimination from the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference tournament, the Kentucky State University volleyball team put their championship pedigree on full display. (Post Game Press Conference) (Game Replay)

Fueled by a renewed sense of excitement, the Thorobreds (23-21 overall) staved off a 2-0 deficit to knock off East Division champion Albany State for the second time in two days Tuesday. With the victory, KSU advances to the championship round and will need to beat West Division champion Spring Hill (31-3) twice. The first game is set for 2 p.m. CST Wednesday at the Birmingham Crossplex.

Kentucky State rarely led during the first two sets, but none of that mattered as the Thorobreds fought through adversity. KSU scored six consecutive points to break an 11-all tie in the third set, but the Rams refused to let the 'Breds run away. They scored five straight late to pull to with 21-20. However, Kentucky State wrapped up the victory with four consecutive points.

There wasn't an extended run in the fourth set as the Thorobreds slowly pulled away, opening up a five-point lead (20-15). Albany State scored six of the next seven points to knot the set at 21-all, but a pair of kills from sophomore Jalynn Roberts (Davenport, IA) and freshman Mariah Peachey (Liverpool, OH) forced a fifth and final set.

KSU owned the second portion of the fifth set, scoring six of the last seven points to advance to its fourth straight SIAC championship game.

Three players – senior Arlandria Greathouse (Crowley, TX), sophomore Robin Poole (Katy, TX) and Peachey – all reached double figure kills. Peachey finished with a team-high 17 points on 36 attempts, and Poole tallied her ninth double-double of the season with 16 kills and 12 digs. Sophomore Spenser Parks (Louisville, KY) nearly recorded her first double-double of the season with nine kills and nine digs.

Greathouse was fantastic at the net, offensively and defensively, with 12 kills and eight blocks. Freshman Alliyah Williams (Sugar Land, TX) added a team-high 24 digs. Sophomore Amanda Moore (Caddo Mills, TX) distributed 35 assists to pace the offense.