Aug. 26, 2011
Final Stats
CHARLESTON, S.C. - Scheduling and opening match nerves combined to keep Isaac Raphael from posting a victory in his debut as Bethune-Cookman University Head Volleyball Coach, but he'll settle for a split of opening day matches with The Citadel and Savannah State.
After dropping a 3-1 (25-16, 25-21, 23-25, 25 15) setback to host The Citadel, the Lady Wildcats rallied for a convincing 3-0 (25-11, 25-16, 25-18) sweep of Savannah State Friday afternoon at McAlister Fieldhouse.
In the next-to-last version of Friday's schedule, hampered by Hurricane Irene all along the East Coast, B-CU would have played the Lady Tigers first instead of The Citadel. That was switched Friday morning. So one could say the schedule denied Raphael the Kodak moment of being undefeated as a Division I Head Coach.
The first-year coach sees it differently, of course.
"We could have won that first match, but we were very nervous," Raphael said. "Citadel had a lot of height and maybe we didn't think we could take them on. At least it was a good warm-up for Savannah State. We stepped it up the second match. I'm happy because the things we worked on were very successful."
B-CU committed 33 attack errors against the Citadel, but dropped that number to 22 against Savannah State. Junior Krysta Gardner had 12 errors in the opener, but reduced that four in the nightcap as she finished with 15 kills in the victory.
"The outside hitters came alive against Savannah State and carried us," Raphael said. "Krysta struggled the first match and one she got past it, she was in her element."
Co-captain Janeen Davis had a solid overall day, registering an 8-kill, 6-dig total against the Citadel and following it with an 8-7 effort in the second match.
"She had a fantastic day," Raphael said of Davis. "She came out much more aggressive in the second match and I was pleased to see that.
Jennifer Jimenez paced the Lady Wildcat defense with 29 digs on the day. Among the newcomers, freshman Krysta Peters stood out with 14 kills.
B-CU's home opener is Tuesday night against Jacksonville at 6 p.m. in historic Moore Gymnasium.
