Sept. 13, 2007

Final Stats

Jacksonville, Fla. - Bethune-Cookman was unable to escape powerfully impressive blocking ability of the Jacksonville University Dolphins on Thursday night as the Wildcats fell by a score of 3-0 in a non-conference volleyball contest at Swisher Gymnasium in Jacksonville, Fla. JU won in straight games on scores of 30-22, 30-22 and 30-21.

B-CU (1-4) uses some height and plenty of leaping ability to power down kills, but JU utilizes height to make the blocks ... "blocking out" the opposition from the kills category. That was the case for the `Cats on Thursday night as the Dolphins seemed to be in position for almost every swing towards the outside.

The homestanding team from the north beach of Jacksonville used an impressive 30 blocks on the night to get their "point" across. JU (4-7) was led by Melissa Merchant with a match-high seven blocks to go along with her four kills.

The Wildcats were in each game as they collected 20+ points in each, but were just unable to get over the proverbial hump towards defeating their intrastate foes from the Atlantic Sun Conference. The Wildcats were also forced into several errors as they committed a season-high 31 errors to just 35 kills as they registered their lowest hitting percentage of the year (.030). All this just two days after collecting their best hitting percentage (.495) of the season against Savannah State.

Bethune-Cookman used the play of Danielle Goodrum to lead the charge as she led the team with a match-high 12 kills on the night. Behind her was Reina Carson with her 11 kill-performance. For Carson, the 11 kills on the night was a new career-high for the junior in a three-game match. Her career-high overall is 12 kills in five games set a year ago.

B-CU defensive specialist Jessica Belton chipped in a career-high night as well with 18 digs. Her previous career-high was six (6) back in 2006 against Savannah State.

But, unfortunately, the power from the Wildcats was not enough as they were continuously forced to hit into the blocks of several Dolphins. Three players ended up with five or more blocks for the Dolphins of JU, including Aidan Yeager and Nicki Kent.

For B-CU, sophomore setter Kumiko Chow and freshman Julie Gibson each recorded 10 assists a piece. Freshman Alyse Guzman, listed as a setter on the 2007 roster, added 11 digs defensively for the maroon and gold.

JU was led on the night by Sara Bendorf with a team-high 10 kills and nine digs. Also playing well was Abby Gruenbacher with nine kills and three blocks (assisted). For the Dolphins, each of their 30 blocks came in an assisted manner as there were always two or more players in the air at the net.

B-CU will now try to regroup as they travel back up I-95 in two days to take on the University of North Florida on Friday at 5 p.m. inside the UNF Arena on the campus of UNF back in Jacksonville, Fla.