FORT VALLEY, Ga. – The Wildcats returned to the court Sunday after a week off and showed no ill efforts from the layoff. Behind a Jaxon Hicks errorless attack, Fort Valley State powered past Life University in straight sets, 3-0, in men's volleyball.
Hicks downed 13 kills without an error and a .650 hitting percentage to lead the Wildcat offense. FVSU (2-3) claimed its second win in a row after scoring five of the final six points in the opening set (25-22), Hicks led a key late run to help pull away in set number two (25-19) and five-straight points trailing by two to end the match (25-23).
Hicks added three total blocks, three digs, an assist and a service ace to his hitting numbers. Chey Cooper chipped in eight winners, four blocks and four digs. Saferino Dour added four blocks, two kills, two aces and two digs, while Raheem Thomas contributed two kills, three blocks and two digs. Jose Gallardo handed out 22 assists while he dug five attacks, lined an ace and was part of a block. Oshane Farquharson finished the individuals with five digs, two blocks and a kill.
Xavier Jones hit eight kills to pace Life's offense.
Set 1
Tied at 6-6, Hicks lined two kills for a 10-7 home lead. Down 18-13, Life netted five tallies in the row for a second tie, 18-18. Behind 21-20, Dour served an ace as part of three points in a row as FVSU retook the lead for good until the 25-22 final.
Set 2
Hicks helped the Wildcats open a four-point lead twice, 11-7 and 13-9, off a kill and a service ace. Leading 18-16 moments later, Hicks hit another kill and teamed with Dour on a block to run off four points in a row for the needed separation of 22-16.
Set 3
Trailing 8-4, Thomas killed a point and then served an ace to aid in FVSU pulling back to within 9-8. Jaequon Henderson later served an ace to tie the match at 19-19. Down 21-19, the Wildcats put the following five points on the scoreboard on the way to wrapping up the match.
FVSU will have only a single day off before it travels to Tuscaloosa, Ala., to face Talladega College on Tuesday night (Feb. 6) in a 5 p.m. CST/6 p.m. EST first serve.
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