Neely's Record Night Helps Down FAMU 3-0 - Bethune-Cookman University Athletics

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Neely's Record Night Helps @BCUvolleyball Down FAMU 3-0

October 06, 2017

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Rakaya Neely had five kills and became Bethune-Cookman's all-time blocks leader as the Wildcats swept arch-rival Florida A&M 3-0 (25-20,25-15,25-21) in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Southern Division match Friday in Historic Moore Gym.

The senior from Frostproof, Fla. posted ten blocks -- tying the single-match record shared with Javanne Johnson and Faith Landreneaux -- as she passed Phylecia Armstrong's 2012-16 total of 317. Jordan Jefferson had seven kills and nine digs as the Wildcats (5-8 overall, 3-0 south) held the Rattlers (5-10,2-1) to a -.023 hitting percentage.

After Florida A&M cut an 18-13 deficit to 19-17 in the third set, Neely registered blocks on consecutive points that helped the Wildcats regain control. Alondra Bautista (eight kills) had two kills in the Wildcats' match closing run.

Bethune-Cookman forced 13 Rattler errors to win the first set, then took a commanding 14-5 lead in the second set.

Setter Phalen Clark finished with 24 assists , 11 digs and five blocks, while libero Rechez Lindsay posted 11 digs.

Nicole Abreu led Florida A&M with 13 kills and nine digs.

HEAD COACH BRITTANY WILLIAMS
"It was a strange game, but a true testament that defense wins game. Offensively, they outscored us (45-43) but we held them to a negative hitting percentage. It was a big night for our blockers."

"An All-around great team effort. It was good to have everyone healthy."

"Rakaya wants it. She's a competitor. She could have relaxed after getting the record in the second set, but she was going all-out in the third."

RAKAYA NEELY
"To beat Florida A&M is always exciting, especially when you have a crowd like tonight's supporting us."

"We focused on their middles, because we knew they have great middles. We focused on taking them out of the game."

NOTES: Neely became the first B-CU volleyball player to beat Florida A&M four times … Williams is now 3-2 against the Rattlers … B-CU had 14 blocks, one shy of tying the school mark of 15 set against Florida Atlantic two weeks ago … The Wildcats won despite having a season-low 27 kills.

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