MIAMI – Bethune-Cookman volleyball dropped its second-straight 3-1 decision, falling to FIU (25-19, 19-25, 25-23, 25-19) Thursday, Sept. 17 during day one of the FIU Invitational in Miami.
After a slow start during the first set, the Wildcats trailed by as many as nine. With the Panthers ahead 21-13, B-CU muscled out a 7-3 run before falling short, 25-19.
A back-and-forth battle during the second, left the score knotted at 16 before back-to-back Rakaya Neely kills and two FIU errors forced a Panther's timeout, B-CU on top 20-16.
A Delicia Pierre service ace kept the Wildcats rolling out of the timeout before B-CU ended the set on a Pierre/Phylecia Armstrong block, capturing the 25-20 victory and tying the match at one.
During the second set, the Wildcats hit an impressive .400 as a team, while Neely accounted for five of the B-CU 10 kills during the set and three blocks.
Neely stayed hot during the third set, opening the game with a kill.
With the Panthers up 8-5 early, B-CU called a timeout sparking an 8-3 and giving them the 14-11 lead.
FIU signaled for a timeout, down three, but the Wildcats were able to keep momentum on their side out of the break pushing ahead 17-11.
Trailing six, the Panthers went on a run of their own knotting the score at 17.
With B-CU on top 21-18, FIU called its final timeout of the set which ignited a 7-2 run, giving the Panthers the 25-23 victory and 2-1 match advantage.
Despite early lead changes, it was all FIU in the fourth set as the Panthers earned the 25-19 victory, sealing the 3-1 match win.
Neely and Destiny Hudson carried the Wildcat's offense during the setback as they collected 14 and 10 kills respectively. Neely hit .571 (14-2-21), while Hudson was good for .435 (10-0-23).
Senior setter, Hazel Ortiz Rosado collected her seventh assist/dig double-double of the season finishing with 36 assists and 11 digs, while Pierre added 10 digs and Normarie Rolon led the defensive effort with 17.
On the net, Neely finished with six blocks and Armstrong earned four.
B-CU returns to the court, Friday, Sept. 18 as the Wildcats face Seattle during their final match of the FIU Invitational at 1 p.m.
