Bigger and better accomplishments are in the reach of Bethune-Cookman's volleyball team next week and the seasons beyond.
Still, nothing wrong with the Lady Wildcats' enjoying Sunday afternoon's regular season finale achievement as much as the Cookout shakes following their regular season finale in Savannah, Ga.
That 3-1 (25-21,24-26,25-21,21-16) Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Southern Division victory at Savannah State not only assured Bethune-Cookman of the division's No. 2 at the conference tournament beginning Friday, but assured the program of its first .500 winning regular season since 2004.
Jordan Jefferson had 22 kills and 14 digs as Bethune-Cookman (15-15,7-3) fended a strong Savannah State (3-28,2-8) challenge before taking complete control in the fourth. A nice second set effort that saw Bethune-Cookman turned a 20-15 deficit into set point at 24-22 was squandered when the Tigers scored the final four points to steal the set.
Kind of a microcosm of the season. Bethune-Cookman had three teams at MATCH POINT during the season only to see the victory. Three more wins, three less losses. You do the math.
Like those losses and after an 0-2 road trip to start MEAC play, BCU regrouped in the third and finally seized control when Jefferson registered three kills and a block to help the Lady Wildcats pull away from an 18-18 tie.
Setting the tone with an eight-kill first set, the sophomore posted her fourth 20-kill match of the season and her 30
th career double-double.
The fourth-set dagger was an 11-0 run with
J'nai Higgins serving ten of those points and getting a rare kill that made it 21-10. The senior finished with 38 assists.
Sterling Williamson provided the complementary firepower with 10 kills, while
Meraiah Hill,
Faith Landreneaux and
Jade Smith combined for 18 blocks.
Shayla Eugene and Skyla Whittaker each had 14 digs.
BCU will open tournament play against Coppin State Friday in Washington, D.C.
NOTES: The 2004 team finished 14-12 after a first-round tournament loss ... This was Savannah State's final MEAC match … BCU won all 38 meetings … Savannah State's .064 hitting percentage was the sixth time a MEAC opponent was held under .100 (seven if you include Coppin State) … BCU's 13 team blocks was its third best total of the season … BCU now 33-7 in MEAC play in the
Brittany Williams era … The Lady Wildcats won three of their final road games after starting 0-9.
