BOCA RATON, Fla. – Bethune-Cookman volleyball made the 2015 season-opener one for the books, as the Wildcats split the day with a 3-0 (25-23, 25-18, 25-15) loss to Florida Atlantic and a comeback, 3-2 (29-31, 23-25, 25-23, 25-20, 15-13) victory over Binghamton during day one of the FAU Invitational in Boca Raton, Florida.

Game One

After opening the first set in convincing fashion, the Wildcats lost steam after a FAU timeout with B-CU leading 21-20. The Owls used a 5-2 run to finish the opening game of 2015 with a 25-23 victory.  

Sets two and three proved to be all FAU as the Wildcats never led in the 25-18 and 25-15 setbacks.

Seniors Delicia Pierre and Rhea Simon led B-CU offensively during their final opening match with nine kills apiece, while fellow senior Hazel Ortiz Rosado collected her first assist/dig double-double of the season with a team-best 27 assists and 14 digs.

Also on the defensive end, Pierre led the Wildcats on the net with four blocks, while Phylecia Armstrong and Rakaya Neely each added three.

Game Two

After leading 15-13 early, Binghamton and B-CU swapped points for the remained for the set before the Bearcats pulled away with the extra-point 31-29 victory.

Leading 1-0, BU jumped out to an early 5-1 lead in the second game. Despite tying the set at 11, the Wildcats never saw a lead in the second game before falling 25-18 and down 2-0 in the match.

Trailing majority of the set, and down 23-20, the Wildcats used two Pierre and one Simon kill along with a Bearcat error and a double block from Pierre and Lauren Turner to seal the game-three victory, 25-23.

With momentum on their side, the Wildcats carried the fire into the fourth set using a 3-1 run after a late Binghamton timeout to earn the 25-20 win.

Aside from going down 1-0, B-CU never trailed in the fifth set, collecting the come-from-behind 3-2 victory with the 15-13 game-five win.

Pierre had the best offensive game of her career finishing with 26 kills (.219) while Simon added 16 and Neely 11.

Ortiz Rosado earned a second assist/dig double-double with a career-best 55 assists and 21 digs in addition to her five service aces. Normarie Rolon also contributed double-digit digs with a team-best 23.

Quoting Coach Williams:

 “I am really proud of the team and how they stepped up today. Our main focus this season is finishing matches, and going down 2-0 we could have easily given up. We had key players step up and were really able to show our growth and maturity as a veteran team.”

“It feels amazing to come out with a win on the first day of play. I know this something that hasn't been done in a long time, and we are setting the tone to leave a legacy with this group of wonderful young women”

'Cat Facts

• Acting head coach Brittany Williams earned her first victory as a head coach during match two.
• The B-CU 1-1 start to the season is the best open since the 2011 start.
• Pierre earned a career-best single-game high 26 kills which ranks fourth all-time in program history.
• Ortiz Rosado's 55 assists records a new career-best and ranks fifth all-time at B-CU.
• The Wildcats opened the season hitting .201 as a team.