MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Fort Valley State University Women's Volleyball (11-3, 7-1 SIAC) split day one of the second SIAC Crossover on Friday.
The Wildcats opened the day with a dominant 3-0 sweep over LeMoyne-Owen College (2-13, 0-8 SIAC).
FVSU and LOC traded points throughout a tightly contested first set before the Wildcats pulled out a 25-23 win. Fort Valley State secured the set on a kill by
Benaye Kyle and a Magicians attack error.
The Wildcats took full control in the second set, cruising to a 25-10 victory. FVSU opened with a six-point run behind
Morgan Hebert's serves to go up 7-1. The team added another six-point surge at the 11th point with
Reagan Mann serving and closed on a 9-1 run capped by a Hebert kill.
FVSU kept rolling in the third set, claiming a 25-14 win. The Wildcats went on a 13-1 tear starting at their fourth point to build an eight-point lead, then added another 8-1 run late in the frame. The sweep was sealed on a LeMoyne-Owen error.
Dakotah Holmes led the offense with an outstanding 12 kills while hitting .579. Kyle followed with eight kills. Hebert paced the setting effort with 19 assists, and Mann added 12.
Defensively,
Sarah Rosario and Holmes tallied eight digs apiece, while
Imani Stokes and Holmes led at the net with two block assists each.
In the second match of the day, FVSU dropped its first SIAC contest of the season to defending conference champion Spring Hill College (13-5, 10-0 SIAC).
Spring Hill narrowly took the opening set 25-23. The Wildcats matched the Badgers early, outscoring them 5-2 at the fourth point, but ultimately fell on a late Spring Hill kill.
The Badgers controlled the next two sets, winning 25-12 and 25-16. The final frame saw Spring Hill pull away with an 8-2 run to close the match.
Holmes again led the way offensively with 11 kills, while Kyle chipped in nine. Mann recorded a double-double with 25 assists and 12 digs, leading both the setting and defensive efforts. Rosario, Holmes, and Kyle each added seven digs.
The Wildcats conclude SIAC Crossover play on Saturday with an 11:30 a.m. CT matchup against Tuskegee University.
