MONTGOMERY, Ala.  – Several Wildcats showcased strong individual efforts, but it was not enough as Bethune-Cookman volleyball dropped its 2021 season finale to Alabama State, 3-1 in Montgomery, Ala.
 
The Wildcats (6-21, 6-10 SWAC) did not go quietly Friday night. B-CU kept things close in the first set, never trailing by more than three at any point before the Hornets (14-15, 11-3 SWAC) prevailed, 25-22.
 
The Hornets took the second set, 25-16 before B-CU recovered to win set three. The Wildcats limited the Alabama State to a -0.043 hitting percentage in the set with 14 errors. At one point, the Wildcats blocked four straight and four of five to push their lead to 21-14. The Wildcats took set three, 25-19.
 
Things were close again in the fourth set, but a late Hornets run shut the door at 25-18.
 
As usual, the Wildcats were active at the front of the net with 10 blocks. Alleah Dallas blocked four, Jasmine Moore added two solo blocks, Aryn Spencer finished with a solo block and an assist, and three other Wildcats rounded things out with block assists.
 
Niara Hightower was surgical, carving up the Hornets with nine kills and a .692 hitting percentage – one of the best single-game marks in B-CU history. Moore added nine kills of her own and Dallas finished with seven.
 
Amaya Finley led the Hornets with 18 kills. Emersen Belles finished with 31 digs, and McKenzie Boland led ASU with 30 assists.
 
The Wildcats conclude their first post-pandemic season, 6-21, with all six wins in SWAC play, where they finished 6-10.