HARROGATE, Tenn. – In their final tuneup before Conference play, the Wildcats played a ranked foe on the road. No. 18 Lincoln Memorial University defeated Fort Valley State on the Friday night men's volleyball court, 3-0.

The Railsplitters (11-1) scored the match's opening five points and only allowed the Wildcats (4-8) a lead for five points in the three sets. LMU ran out to a 13-2 advantage from its five-point start. Oshane Farquharson downed a point and pulled FVSU back to within, 17-8, and a few points later a point closer, 19-11, but it was as close as hit team would get (25-14).

Down 3-2 early in set number two, Jaxon Hicks killed the point and Taviian Martin served an ace for FVSU's first lead, 4-3. Trailing 15-10, the Wildcats ran off seven-straight tallies for a 17-15 edge. The visitors held an 18-16 lead before the Railsplitters put up the ensuing eight points and eventual 25-19 win.

FVSU trailed 12-7 midway through the third set and put up three points for a 12-10 deficit. It was as close as it would get as LMU wrapped up the match, 25-16.

Isaiah Fedd led the FVSU frontline with nine kills, two blocks and two digs. Martin added four kills, two aces and two blocks, while Muhammad Mbaye chipped in four kills and three digs.

Hicks contributed six digs and three kills. Farquharson handed out 11 assists to go with four digs and two kills. Jose Gallardo had eight assists. Jaequon Henderson and Raheem Thomas rounded out the night with two digs and two blocks.

FVSU returns home and opens Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference action this Sunday afternoon, Feb. 23, in a 2 p.m. match with Benedict College.

-Wildcats-