Nov. 7, 2010
Photo Gallery (Courtesy of Vaughn Wilson)
By Dan Ryan
BCUAthletics.com
TALLAHASSEE - Think show biz is cut throat? Florida A&M did everything it could to dash the television starring opportunities for Bethune-Cookman Sunday afternoon.
Two shining moments for the Lady Cats were quickly recaptured by the Rattlers as FAMU posted a 3-1 (25-17,26-10,22-25,25-12) Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference victory in the Lawson Center on a ESPNU national broadcast.
B-CU (7-24 overall, 2-5 MEAC) struck out to a 15-10 lead in the opening set only to see the Rattlers (10-13,6-1) finish with a 15-2 run that carried over to an easy victory in the second set.
When the Lady Cats regrouped and claimed a solid third set victory, FAMU answered by taking a 13-3 lead in the fourth and never lost control. "You have to give FAMU credit," said B-CU coach Vanessa Cogswell. "They do a good job of getting each player to do their job. When they are in system, they will make you pay for it."
Katherine Huanec had 15 kills and Maria Ceccarelli 12 for FAMU, while libero Susan Egovail, who Cogswell hoped would hardly touch the ball, registered 21 digs and allowed the Rattler offense to hit above .345 in all three set victories.
B-CU held FAMU to a negative hitting percentage (-.132) in the third set. How?
"We got them out of system," Cogswell said.
Kat Agson block, a Jennifer Jeminez service ace and a FAMU attack error to score the victory.
"My coaches told me to wait on the set and the setters did a better job of getting the ball to me," said Gardner, "Everything came together."
In the opening set, Kaiyana Johnson's three kills keyed a balanced and powerful net attack that had the Rattlers reeling. FAMU regained the lead at 17-16.
"We played our defense and our offense," Johnson said. "It just wasn't enough."
Jacqueline Woodyear had nine and eight digs, respectively.
B-CU's players knew they had family watching back home. Gardner said her family back in Virginia was gathering at a restaurant that carried ESPNU while Johnson knew of a family gathering for her third appearance on national television.
"It's awesome," Johnson said. "I'm guess I'm one of the lucky ones. If they recorded the match, we'll hit the rewind button to the third set."
Counting the band's appearing on "Battle of the Bands" and the football team's game at Hampton, this was B-CU's third ESPNU appearance in four days.
"It's amazing for the school to get exposure and a great opportunity to represent the school and the athletic department," Cogswell said. " I wish we could have represented a little bit better, but the team fought and tried their best. I can't ask for anything more."
B-CU hosts Stetson Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.
