FORT VALLEY, Ga. – The Wildcats returned to the court and added one more win than they ever have to their total. Fort Valley State established itself in each set and handled Benedict College going away Friday night, 3-0, and claimed the program's new season win total record with victory number nine.
Tied at a point apiece in the opening moments, FVSU ran off the next four scores and seven of eight for an 8-2 advantage. The Wildcat lead grew to 19-10 before playing even in the final 12 points for a 25-16 first set win.
FVSU started set number two with a 4-1 and then 10-3 opening lead. Benedict pulled back to within 11-6, before Isaiah Fedd killed a pair of points, Raheem Thomas added one of his own and Jose Gallardo served an ace to expand the margin to double digits, 16-6. The home team grew the difference to 23-8 and then 25-9 to head to the third.
The Wildcats jumped on the Tigers (1-13/1-5 SIAC) for the third time to a tune of 7-1. Saferino Dour lined one kill followed by a pair from Chey Cooper and a Jaxon Hicks service ace for another double-figure edge, 13-3. The visitors' deficit went to 18-6 before the team both scored seven in the end for the 25-13 final.
With the victory, FVSU recorded the program's first nine win total as it improved to 9-7 overall and stayed perfect in the SIAC at 4-0.
Cooper led the Wildcat offense offense with nine kills and one error in 18 swings for a .444 rate to go with two aces, one assist, a block assist and four digs. Fedd added six kills, hit .417, served five aces, dug four attacks and handed out three assists. Thomas chipped in six kills without an error (.600) to go with a block and a dig. Hicks registered eight winners at a .357 percentage, an ace, a block and a dig, while Dour hit four kills and dug five balls.
Gallardo handed out 26 assists in the three sets to go with two kills and an ace. Diego Cardona dug nine Tiger attacks from his libero spot.
Zion Beckford led Benedict with five kills.
FVSU has only a short time off before it hosts defending SIAC champion Edward Waters on Saturday afternoon (March 23) in a 1 p.m. first serve.
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