ALBANY, Ga. – The Wildcats came close to taking both Saturday matches only to fall short in set five late. Fort Valley State ran off three-straight set wins over Central State, 3-1, before Kentucky State outlasted it in a long five-set women's volleyball decision, 3-2, for the second SIAC Crossover split of the weekend.
Central State fought off set point with three-straight tallies for a 27-25 first set win of the morning match. FVSU, though, rallied for the next three sets via scores of 25-21, 25-14 and 25-18.
The Wildcats held a 2-1 lead after three sets of the afternoon matches (25-18, 21-25, 27-25), but the Thorobreds sent it to a match-deciding set (25-21). Kentucky State scored the first four points and nine of the opening 10 points of the fifth set and never let FVSU get going for the 15-5 final.
Setter Laiani McCullough recorded a second match double-double of 25 assists and 10 digs while she totaled 44 assists and 17 digs on the day. Jahyra Thomas added 24 assists, 15 digs and five kills in her time setting the offense. Sarah Rosario patrolled the back court for 28 digs, five assists and five aces.
Along the frontline, Antonique Coleman was the lone double-digit kill Wildat with 10 winners in each match. She hit .438 in the opening match and .304 in the second contest with 14 total blocks in nine sets. Caytlyn Sanford almost joined Coleman with nine kills at a .529 clip early and 11 kills and eight digs in the second contest.
Both Benaye Kyle and Dakotah Holmes contributed 12 kills and 28 kills on the day. Laila Hilton added 10 kills and Nia Mack eight.
FVSU will have almost two weeks off before it travels to Columbia, S.C., for a 6 p.m. match on Friday, Oct. 4, at Allen University.
-Wildcats-
