HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Bethune-Cookman Volleyball travels to "The Yellowhammer State" this weekend when the Wildcats visit Alabama A&M and Alabama State, respectively, for a pair of Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) matches.
 
The Cats first face Alabama A&M in Huntsville on Friday, Oct. 20, at 7:30 p.m. ET, before traveling to Montgomery to compete against Alabama State on Sunday, Oct. 22, at 4 p.m. ET.
 
MATCH #20: Bethune-Cookman Wildcats at Alabama A&M Bulldogs
WHEN: Friday, Oct. 20, at 7:30 p.m. ET
WHERE: T.M. Elmore Gym (Huntsville, Ala.)
 
MATCH #21: Bethune-Cookman Wildcats at Alabama State Hornets
WHEN: Sunday, Oct. 22, 4 p.m. ET
WHERE: Lockhart Gymnasium (Montgomery, Ala.)
WATCH LIVE: Hornet Sports Network
LIVE STATS: Click Here
 
IN THE RANKINGS
▪ Bethune-Cookman is not ranked in this week's AVCA Division I Coaches Poll Top 25
▪ Alabama A&M is not ranked in this week's AVCA Division I Coaches Poll Top 25
▪ Alabama State is not ranked in this week's AVCA Division I Coaches Poll Top 25
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
Keep up with everything Bethune-Cookman Volleyball this year by following the Wildcats on all their social media platforms. You can follow @BCUVolleyball on Instagram and @BCUVolleyball on Twitter.
 
NEWS & NOTES
▪ Niara Hightower enters the weekend topping the league in blocks with an average of 1.12 per set. She owns 74 total blocks altogether on the season.
▪ The Cats are paced offensively by Mia Delahoussaye with a team-leading 121 kills (2.47 per set).
▪ BCU uses two setters, lead by Alisha Callender with 229 assists (4.09 per set) and followed closely by Madison Coates with 218 assists (3.41 per set).
▪ Elizabeth Phillips leads the Maroon and Gold with 14 service aces, having also added 71 kills and six assists to her credit on the season.
▪ Essence Bell (155 digs) and Rylee Davis (150 digs) head up the defensive efforts of the Wildcats.
▪ Callender also has 115 digs, and teammate Coates has 105 digs.
 
BCU VS. ALABAMA A&M SERIES
▪ The series between Bethune-Cookman and Alabama A&M stands even at 4-4 all-time dating back to 1998. The Bulldogs took the earlier meeting between the two sides this season in Dayton Beach by a narrow 3-2 decision. However, the Wildcats have won three of the last five matches in the series but dropped a heartbreaking 3-2 thriller to the Dogs last season in Huntsville.
 
SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS
▪ Alabama A&M enters the weekend having won five consecutive matches and holding a 6-16 overall record for the campaign.
▪ The Bulldogs are currently tied for fourth in the SWAC alongside Jackson State and Grambling State with a league record of 5-3.
▪ In AAMU's current winning streak, the Bulldogs have won all five games away from T.M. Elmore Gymnasium.
▪ Bailey Duckett leads the Bulldogs with 182 kills (2.60 per set), and teammate Saldy Amparo Smith owns 120 kills (1.93 per set).
▪ The two-setter system of Grace Tapscott (260 assists) and Mackenzie Jefferson (257 assists) provide the assists for the squad.
▪ Ajanae Cressey has registered 40 blocks (33 assisted), while teammate Michell Jerez has provided a team-high 208 digs.
 
BCU VS. ALABAMA STATE SERIES
▪ Bethune-Cookman owns a 9-5 series lead against Alabama State in a series that dates back to October 6, 2000. The Wildcats won the first nine meetings in the series, with the last victory being a 3-0 defeat of the Hornets in 2010. Since joining the SWAC, the Hornets have taken all five meetings – all but one being 3-1 decisions. The last contest between the two sides was a 3-1 setback earlier this season in Daytona Beach.
 
SCOUTING THE HORNETS
▪ Alabama State comes into the weekend first facing off against Florida A&M on Friday evening, before turning its sights to Bethune-Cookman on Sunday afternoon.
▪ The Hornets bring a perfect 8-0 SWAC record into the weekend, sitting alone top the league standings.
▪ ASU has won each of its last eight matches on the bounce, while having recorded a 9-12 overall record on the campaign.
▪ The Hornets are led offensively by the duo of Jylen Whitten with a team-most 207 kills (2.72 per set) and Jada Rhodes with 204 kills (2.68 per set).
▪ The primary setter for the Hornets is Madison Beasley as she tops the team with 420 assists, followed by Emily Brooks with 258 assists under her belt.
▪ Five players own at least 20 service aces, including 26 to top the team by Whitten.
▪ Temperance Chatman leads the team with 297 digs (3.91 per set).
 
A QUICK LOOK AT THE CATS
Record – 3-16 (.158) // SWAC Record – 3-5 (.375) // Last 5 Matches – 2-3 (.200) // Last 10 Matches – 3-7 (.000) // Last 15 Matches – 3-12 (.200)
 
UP NEXT
Once returning from Alabama, Bethune-Cookman hosts the SWAC Cluster #2 event inside Moore Gymnasium welcoming teams from Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Grambling, Alcorn, Florida A&M and Alabama State. The event begins Sunday, Oct. 29, at 9 a.m., and runs through Monday afternoon.
 
Follow Bethune-Cookman Volleyball on Twitter (@BCUVolleyball) and Instagram (@BCUVolleyball) for all of the latest news and updates. For all Bethune-Cookman Athletics news, follow us on Twitter (@BCUAthletics), Instagram (@BCU_Athletics) and BCUathletics.com.