JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Wildcats made one step closer to the fast rising gold they have their eyes set on. Fort Valley State ran past Kentucky State with big runs in each set, 3-0, and advanced to the program's first Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championship men's volleyball match.

FVSU left no doubt from the start of Thursday's semifinal match which team was moving on to the title match. With an early 4-2 lead in the opening set, the Wildcats (16-8) ran off the next nine points for a 13-2 advantage before taking a 25-13 final. Tied at 5-5 in set number two, Saferino Dour downed a pair of kills and teamed with Jaequon Henderson on a tandem block for an 8-0 spurt and never looked back in a wider win margin, 25-11. In the final set, FVSU held a 15-14 edge on Kentucky State, before it recorded 10 of the final 11 tallies for a 25-15 score.

After making it no further than the Semifinals in its first two years, FVSU will be playing for the gold Friday afternoon. The No. 1 Wildcats will be play the winner of the other Semifinal between No. 2 Edward Waters and No. 3 Central State. First serve will be at 1 p.m. on Edward Waters home floor.

For the match, SIAC Player of the Year Jaxon Hicks downed nine kills with only one error in 19 attacks at a .421 rate to go with four assists, four total blocks and six digs. Isaiah Fedd added nine kills of how own along with seven digs and an ace, while Chey Cooper had three kills, three blocks and two digs. Rashaun Wright contributed four kills in seven attacks (.571) and a block, while Dour contributed three kills at a .500 rate and three blocks.

Henderson handed out 21 assists, downed three kills, took part in two blocks and dug five attacks. Diego Cardona dug six attacks and Raheem Thomas hit two kills and had two blocks. Jose Gallardo rounded out with five assists and two blocks in one set played.

-Wildcats-