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Wildcats Count on Experienced Foundation in 2019 Campaign

9/4/2019 5:05:00 PM

By: Chris Myers
2019 Schedule
2018 Final Stats
FORT VALLEY, Ga. – With only a couple days before the season opener, the Wildcats are set to take the court. Fort Valley State will count on its experience foundation to lead it volleyball charge in the 2019 campaign.
 
The Wildcats (5-17) aim to build upon its progress made the past two years under third-year head coach Jason Bryant. An experienced core of five seniors – Nia Bell (Elizabeth City, N.C.), Ashaunti Brown (St. Petersburg, Fla.), Rita Davis (San Antonio, Texas), Ashley Simmons-Blair (Aiken, S.C.) and Jordan Davis (St. Louis, Mo.) – stand to lead the charge.
 
"We will count heavily on our seniors to lead us this year. The group will help us continue to make headway and set up our program for the seasons to come," said Bryant.
 
The Wildcats begin its 2019 schedule on Friday afternoon, Sept. 6. FVSU travels to Middle Georgia State for a single match starting at noon. The team then opens its home schedule in the HPE Arena and Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference against Albany State next Tuesday evening and a non-conference match with Brewton-Parker on Friday, Sept. 13.
 
Bell, Brown and junior India King (Warner Robins, Ga.) return three of the top four Wildcats frontline players from last season. In her first year at The Valley, Bell, who was a junior transfer from Fayetteville State last year, was the driving force at outside hitter. The fifth-year senior was among the SIAC's top hitter at 3.39 kills per set and 268 kills in 79 sets. Bell had a monster match of 28 kills and 22 digs at Benedict, while she added 15 kills and 20 digs versus Paine College. Nia also downed 21 kills against Central State and posted nine total double-doubles.
 
King finished second on the FVSU team with 157 kills over 136 matches. The third-year Wildcat pounded 17 kills and two blocks against Central State and had 13 kills versus Paine College. King was the top blocker with 53 total blocks and 0.66 per set to go with 62 digs, 20 service aces and 16 set assists.
 
Brown did not take as many swings as Bell or King, but she posted 67 kills. She started the 2018 season off with what was her season-high of nine kills against Columbia International and had 11 matches with four or more winners. Brown was a consistent blocker with 36.
 
Sophomore Ceirra Wright (Atlanta, Ga.) came on late last season and looks to carry over her first-year growth to this fall. The 6-0 middle hitter wrapped up the season with a season-best eight kills with a .389 hit percentage in 18 attacks at Paine College. She had eight matches with three-plus kills and hit five kills playing Central State.
Feeding the frontline, Rita Davis returns as the starting setter. The fourth-year player led the Wildcats with 485 assists (6.74 asst/set) over 72 sets. Rita recorded a season-high 43 and 40 assists in the two matches against Paine College. She added 39 assists and 10 digs at Benedict and 29 assists and 11 digs versus Miles.
 
In her second year, Shantrila Mosley (Jonesboro, Ga.) provides a reliable second setter, who will again battle for more playing time. A year ago, Mosley handed out 153 assists in 38 sets. Her best match of the year came with 34 assists and 10 digs against Central State.
 
Versatile Jaelyn Franklin (Riverdale, Ga.) played a few roles last year and looks to repeat it this season. The sophomore provided a quality server, good defender and one who can step in at right side or setter as well. Franklin accounted for 124 digs, 20 kills and 10 service aces as a freshman. She had a high of 16 digs against Paine College and three matches hit double-digits in digs.
 
The FVSU defensive foundation begins at libero with stalwart Simmons-Blair. The 5-4 senior logged 15 double-figure dig outings, including 30 digs against Central State. Simmons-Blair dug 23 attacks against Albany State and a solid 13 matches with 17-plus digs nights.
 
The final two returners add to the defensive specialist position in Jordan Davis and junior Kawonica Ridley (Perry, Ga.). Davis saw action in 22 sets with her best defensive efforts against Kentucky State and Tuskegee with six and five digs.
 
Ridley was a serving specialist for the majority of the 2018 season where she laced 12 service aces. The third-year FVSU player lined four aces against Paine College. She dug 34 attacks with eight coming in the match with Tuskegee.
 
A trio of incoming freshmen players – defensive specialists QuiAndra Moore (Lawrenceville, Ga.) and Katayshia Ridley (Perry, Ga.) and middle hitter Schylar Bunkley (Atlanta, Ga.) – each look to gain court time and help the program this season.
 
With the experienced roster, Coach Bryant's third team can lean on the team leaders to continue the growth of the Wildcats program in 2019.
 
 

 
 
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