Sept. 27, 2011

Box Score

Post-Match Interview

By Dan Ryan
BCUAthletics.com

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - The "Stetson thing" may or may not be a living entity, but it's keeping Bethune-Cookman's frustration with its cross county rival going as the Lady Wildcats fell 3-0 (25-22,25-23,29-27) Tuesday night in historic Moore Gymnasium.

Kaylee Ream had 14 kills and Kaley Melville double-doubled with 11 kills and 19 digs as Stetson (3-9) defeated the Lady Wildcats (6-9) for the second time this season and the fifth consecutive time dating back to 2009.

So what is it that keeps Bethune-Cookman in a chronic state of struggle against one specific team?

"It's definitely mental," said B-CU coach Isaac Raphael. "What it is exactly is for me as a coach to find out so we can adjust it."

Janeen Davis had a match-high 15 kills for B-CU, while Krysta Gardner finished with 10 kills and nine digs on a night where the team came out flat.

"There wasn't that much energy out there and when it was there we had to force it," Raphael said. "This game is all about energy. We have to be more than the Janeen and Krysta show. We need other people to step up and take care of the ball and not make silly mistakes."

B-CU had a chance to extend the match in the third set, leading 22-19 and forcing set point at 24-23 on an Aubrianna Curtis block. Melville and Ream took control as Stetson took the advantage the rest of the way. In the second set, B-CU had a 23-22 lead but Stetson scored the final three points.

Linda Nwabuko had five kills and two blocks for B-CU, while Jennifer Jimenez posted 14 digs. B-CU opens Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Friday when it faces defending champion South Carolina State in Orangeburg, S.C.