ALBANY, Ga. – The Wildcats entered 'uncharted territory' and passed their first test. Fort Valley State was absent from the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Women's Volleyball Tournament since the current Wildcat roster was learning the sport, but it marched on Thursday night with a 3-1 victory over Lane College in the Opening Round.
The Wildcats put the match's first four points on the board and posted the final three of the contest. The Wildcats took away 28-26 and 25-23 close scores in the first two sets, before Lane won the second extra-point set, 25-27. FVSU, though, turned a 11-7 fourth set lead into a 16-7 advantage before it ran off the final three points on a Sarah Rosario ace and Thomas and Holmes back-to-back kills for the 25-12 score to end the night.
With the victory, FVSU (15-7) marched into the SIAC Semifinals against the winner of the final Opening Round matchup of Kentucky State-Albany State. The first serve of the Semifinal will be at 7 p.m. The other Semifinal will pit Savannah State against Spring Hill College in a 4 p.m. first serve.
Newly-crowned SIAC Freshman of the Year Holmes led the Wildcat charge with a double-double of 10 kills and 13 digs to go with two blocks, two aces and an assist. Benaye Kyle powered her own double-double of 11 winners, 12 digs and three blocks.
All-SIAC First Teamer Antonique Coleman powered six kills and seven total blocks. Caytlyn Sanford added six kills and five digs, while Nia Mack chipped in three kills, four blocks and two digs. Rounding out the frontline, Brooke Matthews hit four kills and three blocks.
Both Wildcat setters - Laiani McCullough and Thomas – had their own double-doubles. McCullough handed out 18 assists to go with 13 digs to go with three aces and a block. Thomas dished 12 assists and dug 11 attacks with four kills and an ace. Rosario led the back row with 20 digs, six assists and two aces.
In a back-and-forth first set, FVSU had set-points at both 24-23 and 25-24. Lane netted the next two tallies for its own set-point, 26-25, before it hit three-straight attack errors for the FVSU, 28-26, win.
FVSU led the latter half of Set 2 and held a 24-21 set point. Again, Lane pushed the set to the limit with two points for a 24-23 score before a service error ended the set for a FVSU 25-23 win.
Leading 23-23 in Set 3, FVSU gave up the next two points and saw the game deadlock at 25. The Dragons down a pair of kills and extended the match, 27-25.
FVSU started Set 4 strong with the opening three points and never trailed. After its five-point burst for a nine-point advantage, the Wildcats continued with the same margin, 21-12. Rosario, Thomas and Holmes finished the match and sent their team on to Friday's Semifinals.
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