PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas – Bethune-Cookman Volleyball completed two weekend matches unbeaten in the state of Texas on Sunday afternoon, as the Wildcats downed Prairie View A&M, 3-0 in a Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) match inside William J. Nicks Building. B-CU collected the win on scores of 25-23, 25-20, 25-22.
 
Bethune-Cookman (10-11, 7-2 SWAC) improved its hitting percentage in each set, despite registering less attacks in each frame as well.
 
With the Wildcats leading 15-13 in the opening set, senior outside hitter Jasmine Robinson tallied four of the Cats next five kills, mixed with a kill from redshirt senior outside hitter Elizabeth Phillips. That allowed B-CU a 21-17 advantage.
 
But Prairie View A&M (9-15, 6-3 SWAC) would rally behind an Iyonna Sherwood kill and two attack errors charged to Bethune-Cookman to cut the Wildcats lead at 24-23. In the end, B-CU got a timely kill from junior middle blocker Ariel "AJ" Simmons as she collected the decisive point to close the set for the Maroon and Gold, 25-23.
 
The second set saw the hosts run out to an early 10-6 advantage with kills from Sherwood and Kylee Owens. The lead stretched to 13-9 on consecutive kills from the Panthers duo of Owens and Aliyah Levert.
 
B-CU's Robinson lined a kill off the PVAMU block followed by an attack error charged to the Panthers' Janyah Henderson, pushing the Cats in front, 16-15. It would be the Wildcats' first lead since 3-2. The two sides traded side-outs much of the way down the stretch until Mecca Freeman and Niara Hightower combined for a block to put B-CU on top, 21-20.
 
The Cats took each of the next four points using a Panthers attack error coupled with a Hightower and Robinson kill, respectively.
 
B-CU led 2-0 in the match following the 25-20 win in set two.
 
Bethune-Cookman never trailed in the third set as the Cats hit a match-high .359 and held the hosts to just .205 hitting for the second set in a row.
 
The score was tied 3-all as redshirt senior middle blocker Ktyal Price placed a kill between the PVAMU block, followed by two Phillips kills and a Price block. B-CU led 10-5 after another Phillips kill – one of her 13 on the day. For the Indianapolis, Indiana, native, it was the first time this season she has gone back-to-back with double-digit kills performances after recording 11 two days ago at Texas Southern.
 
The Panthers did chip away at the lead late-on with Bailee Hewitt's kills off the bench. A pair of Wildcats service errors also aided the Panthers in the third frame. But it was a Robinson kill into the block and down that allowed Bethune-Cookman its fourth win in as many matches, and allowing Head Coach Brittany Williams and her squad a sweep of the two teams from the "Lone Star State" for the first time since joining the SWAC in 2021.
 
Prairie View A&M was led on the day by Owens with 19 kills and 17 digs. Levert chipped in with 10 kills and an assisted block. Leah Lawson had 23 assists for the Panthers, while Leila Smalls performed a match-high 19 digs.
 
Bethune-Cookman was topped by Robinson's season-high 17-kills outing, giving the Fleming Island, Florida, native eight double-digit kills matches on the campaign. Phillips bagged a double-double with 13 kills and a team-high 12 digs – her third double-double of the season, and second consecutive. Freshman setter Nola Hemphill had 18 assists and senior Alisha Callender handed out 13. Sydni Poston sparked the libero play with 11 digs – her fourth match with double-digit digs this season.
 
The Cats return home to Richard V. Moore Gymnasium on Friday, Oct. 25, when they play host to league foe Arkansas-Pine Bluff at 6 p.m., on a B-CU Homecoming 2K24 weekend in Daytona Beach.
 
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