SAVANNAH, Ga. – The Wildcats have responded in important moments again Monday night. Tied at a set apiece, Fort Valley State captured the third-set momentum with the final four points and rode it into closing out the match past Savannah State, 3-1, in women's volleyball action.

FVSU took a five-point lead twice in the early opening set, before it received a Laila Hilton kill for the final point of the 25-17 win. Savannah State rebounded and tied the match at 1-1 with its own 25-17 set number two score.

After the Wildcats led by four twice early in the third set, the Tigers reversed it to their own five-point advantage, 21-16. FVSU put together the next five tallies, but would then still trail 23-21. Caytlyn Sanford, Dakotah Holmes and a pair from Hilton of four kills in a row for the come from behind win, 25-23. The Wildcats continued the momentum and went out to an 18-9 fourth set lead, but they had to fight the Tigers in the end until Holmes and Antonique Coleman made a tandem block ending the match, 25-23.

With the victory, FVSU tied last season's 11-win total as it improved to 11-4 overall. The Wildcats also are now a solid 9-4 in the SIAC East, while the Tigers dropped to 8-7 and 7-5 in the Division.

Holmes powered the FVSU front line with 17 kills to go with nine dig and five block assists. Sanford added eight kills and three total blocks. Benaye Kyle paced the defense with 26 digs to go with eight kills and a pair of service aces.

Coleman continued her blocking prowess with two solo blocks and nine block assists as she had five kills to boot. Hilton had a solid outing of seven kills, four blocks and two digs. Nya Mack had two kills and two digs.

Laiani McCullough handed out 24 assists and five digs, while Jahyra Thomas dished 18 assists, seven digs and an ace. Libero Sarah Rosario dug 23 attacks to go with three assists and an ace.

FVSU and Savannah State will change venues and have the second match of the season series on Friday evening (Nov. 1) in a 6 p.m. contest in Fort Valley.

-Wildcats-