Volleyball Sets School Record Win Streak

Bethune-Cookman (14-11, 11-2 SWAC) picked up its eighth consecutive victory –surpassing the previous school mark of seven wins in a row during the 2015 campaign. However, three of those wins came as part of the 2015 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Tournament, as the Cats advanced to their first-ever MEAC Volleyball Championship against Howard in Princess Anne, Maryland.

The Cats began Sunday’s return leg to Alabama hitting a match-high .472 in the opening set, using Mecca Freeman’s five-kill effort along with four kills apiece from Elizabeth Phillips and Ktyal Price, respectively. Freeman and Price posted two of the final three kills in the frame to allow the visitors the lead in the match, 1-0.

Alabama State (8-17, 5-7 SWAC) quickly responded with six kills coming off the swing of A’Nylah Cobb to knot the match 1-1 with the second set victory.

B-CU trailed 15-14 in the third before junior Tiyanna Preston placed a kill, followed by an ASU attack error. Two plays later, it would be Price with the kill for the Cats before Preston and Price combined for a block to push their side to an 18-16 lead. A Rylee Davis service ace would make it 19-16, while Freeman and Phillips each provided kills for the Wildcats down the stretch to grab the set and move out to a 2-1 match advantage.

The homestanding Hornets took the match to a fifth set – the second consecutive time the two teams have played a five-set decider, with the help of three kills from Jayli Nealy, Kaylen Hines and Cobb, respectfully. In the frame, the Hornets hit at a team-high .462 clip, while the Cats were limited to a match-low .133 mark.

In the fifth frame, Phillips broke a 4-4 deadlock with a kill, followed immediately by another Price/Preston block combination to allow the Wildcats a 6-4 advantage. After two more attack errors charged to the hosts, B-CU surged out to an insurmountable 10-5 lead.

Freshman setter Nola Hemphill grabbed a kill to make it 13-6.

But the Hornets answered with a 6-1 run, as Essence Jones joined Hines for a block, as well as Christyn Ashby providing one of her three kills in the frame, pulling the Hornets to within 14-12.

But it would be a Niara Hightower kill off the set of Alisha Callender that closed the victory, allowing B-CU its first-ever SWAC series sweep of Alabama State. It was also Bethune-Cookman’s first time taking back-to-back wins from the Hornets since 2009 and 2010.

Bethune-Cookman sits second place in the SWAC, while Jackson State (9-2) has two matches in hand sitting in third.

Alabama State was led on the day with a match-high 17 kills coming from Ashby, as well as 13 from teammates Hines and Cobb. Jyriah Morgan also provided the Hornets with 10 kills of her own to reach double-figures. Kamrynn Clay tallied a match-high 40 assists. And it was Breanna Swanson with a match-high 23 digs from her libero position.

As for Bethune-Cookman, Price netted a team-high 14 kills, the fourth time she’s reached double-figure kills on the campaign. Freeman added a season-best 12 kills and Hightower 11. Callender had 29 assists, while Hemphill gave out 22. Phillips led the defense with 16 digs, and libero Sydni Poston picked up 12 for her sixth double-figure digs performance of the season – and her fourth in the last six matches overall. Price led the middle with six blocks, as Hightower added five (four assisted) and Freeman another four (three assisted).

Bethune-Cookman returns home to Moore Gymnasium on Friday, Nov. 8, at 6 p.m., when the Wildcats host in-state opponent Florida A&M for a pivotal SWAC matchup at the top of the standings.

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