DAYTONA BEACH, FLA. –  After no shortage of drama, the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats delivered a 3-0 sweep of Mississippi Valley State that was anything but easy, Friday night at Moore Gymnasium.
 
Bethune-Cookman (5-15, 5-4 SWAC) opened the match in cruise control, taking the first two sets 25-14 and 25-11.
 
Things quickly shifted in the third set as MVSU (2-12, 0-9 SWAC) stormed out to a 6-1 lead that quickly ballooned to as large as 13-3. The Delta Devils threatened to take the third set with a 23-19 lead late, but a quick run pulled the Wildcats even at 24-24.
 
Then the theatrics began.
 
A vicious back-and-fourth between the two squads ensued before the Wildcats finally came away victorious, 33-31. Extra points featured six lead changes. The Delta Devils had three separate chances to take the set by two – The Wildcats had three of their own before finally icing the contest at 33-31.
 
"It was good for us to go out and play our game," Wildcats head coach Brittany Williams said postgame. "Our focus was to play BCU volleyball – to play the Wildcat way – and I definitely feel like the girls went out there and did that."
 
For Williams, the third set thriller came down to the proper preparation:
 
"There's this drill that we do once a week in practice for match prep called 'Up, Down, Tie," Williams said. "We imagine a scenario when it's 0-0, 18-20, 20-20, 22-20, and they are working on how to come back down at the end of a match. It was really exciting to see them push through. We had some people really step up – especially our seniors."
 
Jasmine Moore and Victoria Samedy each finished the match with seven kills. Alleah Dallas continued her stellar season at the front of the net with four total blocks. Moore added three blocks of her own, and Ny'Asia John added two. Kortney Curtis finished with 17 assists, and Jacynta Williams compiled 15 digs.
 
The Wildcats will conclude their 2021 home schedule on Sunday with their annual Senior Day. Prior to the match, the Wildcats will honor each of their six seniors for their time and accomplishments at B-CU. The Wildcats will face the Tigers of Jackson State University, with the game set to begin at 1 p.m.