Match Information:
Opponent: Morgan State (Friday, Nov. 18/10:00 a.m. EST)
Location: Princess Anne, Md. | Hytche Gym
DAYTONA BEACH, Florida – Bethune-Cookman volleyball opens the 2016 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Tournament Friday (Nov. 18) morning at 10 a.m., as the Wildcats face Morgan State in a season rematch from Oct. 16 at the Hyche Gym on the campus of Maryland Eastern Shore in Princess Anne, Maryland.
Bethune-Cookman enters the tournament as the No. 2 seed from the southern division while Morgan State finished as the No. 3 seed from the north.
Earlier this season, when the Wildcats and Bears met in Baltimore, BCU swept Morgan, 3-0 (25-11, 25-16, 25-21).
BCU
The 9-20 Wildcats are currently led by the 2016 MEAC Rookie of the Year,
Alana Handy, who collects 3.34 kills per set, while posting ten kill/dig double-doubles this season.
Phylecia Armstrong set a program record with a .750 hitting percentage against Tulane, recording 15 kills with zero errors on 20 attempts giving her the second-best percentage in the nation. Armstrong ranks third on the team with 2.08 kills per set and leads the team with 100 total blocks.
On the defensive end, Normaire Rolon Soto has collected a team-best 340 digs (3.47 dps), while
Phalen Clark and while
J'nai Higgins have split the setting responsibility with 446 (6.76 aps) and 409 (5.38 aps) assists respectively.
MSU
The 6-20 Bears are led by Natashia Barker's 4.48 kills per set.
On the defensive end, Minja Rankov collects 4.07 digs per set while Victoria Turnbough and Monette Daniels each have 34 blocks on the season.
WILDCAT FACTS
- Alana Handy was named the 2016 MEAC Co-Rookie of the Year
- Phylecia Armstrong (First Team), Alana Handy (Second Team) and Rakaya Neely (Second Team), were all named to All-MEAC post teams.
- Alana Handy was named MEAC Rookie of the Week three times this season (Oct. 17/Oct.24/Oct.31)
- Normarie Rolon Soto moved into first place in BCU history on Tuesday, Oct. 4 when her 16 digs passed Jennifer Jimenez' Bethune-Cookman record of 1,186.
- J'nai Higgins was named to the Bulldog Invitational All-Tournament Team (Sept. 17-18).
- Alondra Bautista earned MEAC Defensive Player of the Week honors (Sept. 5).
- Phylecia Armstrong broke the BCU record for hitting percentage in a match after hitting .750 (15-0-20).
- Armstrong earned All-Tournament honors at both the FAU Invitational (Aug. 26-27) and the Allstate Sugar Bowl Tournament (Sept. 2-3).
- Alana Handy was named to the FAU All-Tournament team (Aug. 26-27).
- Bethune-Cookman was selected as preseason favorites in the MEAC southern division.
- Senior Phylecia Armstrong and junior Rakaya Neely were named to the preseason All-MEAC team.
Follow Bethune-Cookman Athletics on Facebook (www.facebook.com/BCUathletics), Twitter (www.twitter.com/BCUathletics) and Instagram (www.instagram.com/BCUathletics) for all of the latest news and updates. Fans also receive timely information, including special offers and giveaways throughout the year, via the social media outlets or www.BCUathletics.com.
