Oct. 20, 2006
Daytona Beach, Fla. -
Bethune-Cookman College used a strong opening and competitive finish on Friday afternoon as they breezed past South Carolina State in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference volleyball match by a count of 3-0 at Moore Gymnasium in Daytona Beach, Florida. In the win, the `Cats used scores of 30-22, 30-25 and 30-17.
Bethune-Cookman (7-8, 4-3 MEAC) had a powerful performance all-around--a season-best attack percentage (.306), and had just nine (9) attack errors all day long--another season-best.
The `Cats opened up the match with a 30-22 victory in the first game as freshman Chelle Ticeson and middle blocker Vonetta Simpson both helped out with double-digit kills in the match. Freshman setter Kumiko Chow set up the offense as she combined with Simpson and Ticeson early and often throughout the match.
The Bulldogs of SCSU (12-15, 2-6) fought hard in the second game as Monique Walker and Vicky Jeter were the sparks needed for a back-and-forth game. The `Dogs had too many errors down the stretch as a costly service error from Charlene Pama and an attack error by Jeter allowed the `Cats to bring the lead back to the "home" side for the 30-25 win.
The Wildcats wasted little time in the third game deciding the fate for the visitors from Orangeburg, S.C. as Ticeson and Terra Wagner were solid in the 30-17 win. Wagner picked up four of her seven kills on the day in the third game.
Meanwhile, the other half of the Wildcats Fabulous Freshmen Foursome [Tabatha Williams / Meredith McCormick] went to work as McCormick set up the offense as a setter, and Williams knocked them down with power that is earning her high praise on the squad.
The Bulldogs were not to be outdone on the stat sheet, outside of a few costly errors, as All-MEAC hopefuls Lilliana Gootinag (seven kills, seven digs), Jeter (eight kills, seven digs) and Walker (eight kills, two service aces, five digs) all played extremely well in the loss. Also playing great for the `Dogs was setter Pama with 25 assists and seven digs.
For the `Cats, it was Ticeson leading all players with a match-high 12 kills, two digs and two blocks (assist). Simpson pitched in with a match second-best 10 kills, two digs and three blocks (two solo). Defensively, the `Cats were led by Chow with 11 digs and 31 assists. Rachelle Aupperle and Ariane Guy also had six digs apiece for the `Cats.
Bethune-Cookman will now prepare for their next opponent as they will finish off the 2006 regular season at home with the second of six-straight games inside Moore Gymnasium. The `Cats host intrastate rival Jacksonville on Wednesday, Oct. 25 at 7 p.m. in Daytona Beach. The Dolphins knocked off the `Cats 3-0 back on Sept. 30 in Jacksonville.
