FORT VALLEY, Ga. – The Wildcats honored five foundation players in the rising program Saturday night. Edward Waters edged Fort Valley State in four sets, 3-1, on 'Senior Night' in The Valley.

After falling in close opening sets (21-25, 20-25), FVSU came from behind in the third set. Trailing 17-14 later in the third, the Wildcats ran off eight-straight points to pull ahead, 22-17, and later downed the final two tallies capped on a Laiani McCullough setter kill (25-21). The home team held a close 9-7 lead in the fourth as it tried to tie the match, but the Tigers netted 16 of the next 17 points for a 25-10 score to end the night.

FVSU (11-6/9-6 SIAC East) split the season series against Edward Waters (7-15/7-7 SIAC East) after it won a 3-2 final in Jacksonville on Oct. 25.

Before the match, head coach Chymaine Guinyard honored the five Wildcat senior players of McCullough, Sarah Rosario, Nya Mack, Raven Edwards and Morgan Hebert. McCullough surpassed 1,500 career assists on Friday night and she added 23 more to go with eight digs, three block and a kill Saturday evening.

Libero Rosario dug 12 attacks and had two assists, while Mack hit for two kills and was in on three blocks. Edwards chipped in three kills and three digs. Hebert has been a team manager this season after three playing years where she totaled 301 kills, 815 assists and 335 digs in 219 sets played.

Leading the FVSU frontline, Caytlyn Sanford downed eight kills and had two total blocks. Dakotah Holmes produced nine digs and seven kills, while Benaye Kyle had nine digs and six kills. Antonique Coleman and Laila Hilton combined for seven kills, five blocks and three digs. Jahyra Thomas chipped in four assists, seven digs and an ace.

FVSU has a week off before it hosts Benedict College next Saturday, Nov. 9, in a 2 p.m. match.

-Wildcats-