DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Bethune-Cookman returns to Moore Gymnasium this weekend on a Homecoming weekend in Daytona Beach to host Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Grambling State for a pair of Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Volleyball contests.
 
MATCH #22: Bethune-Cookman Wildcats vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions
WHEN: Friday, Oct. 25, at 6 p.m. ET
WHERE: Richard V. Moore Gymnasium (Daytona Beach, Fla.)
LIVE STATS: Click here
WATCH: Click Here
 
MATCH #23: Bethune-Cookman Wildcats vs. Grambling State Tigers
WHEN: Sunday, Oct. 27, at Noon ET
WHERE: Richard V. Moore Gymnasium (Daytona Beach, Fla.)
LIVE STATS: Click here
WATCH: Click Here
 
IN THE RANKINGS
▪ Bethune-Cookman is not ranked in this week's AVCA Division I Coaches Poll Top 25
▪ Arkansas-Pine Bluff is not ranked in this week's AVCA Division I Coaches Poll Top 25
▪ Grambling State is not ranked in this week's AVCA Division I Coaches Poll Top 25
 
FAN INFORMATION/PROMOTIONS
▪ Doors open one hour prior to first-serve at the South entrance of Richard V. Moore Gymnasium.
▪ The clear bag policy is in effect for all Bethune-Cookman Athletics events.
▪ Theme: Dig Pink
▪ B-CU is asking everyone to wear PINK as the team shows support for breast cancer awareness.
 
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
▪ Bethune-Cookman comes into the weekend second place in the SWAC with a 7-2 league mark, and holds a 10-11 record overall.
▪ The Wildcats have won their last four matches consecutively.
▪ Redshirt senior outside hitter Elizabeth Phillips was named SWAC Defensive Player of the Week, and teammate Jasmine Robinson was tabbed Newcomer of the Week – her second award of the 2024 season.
▪ B-CU is atop the SWAC in blocks, second in opponent hitting percentage and fourth in digs.
▪ Robinson leads the Cats with 192 kills across the campaign.
▪ Niara Hightower is fourth in the SWAC in hitting percentage (.275) and fourth in blocks (1.14 per set) with 91 total blocks.
▪ Junior libero/defensive specialist Rylee Davis is first on the team in digs (173), while senior setter Alisha Callender is second (171).
▪ Fifth year Ktyal Price is third in the league for blocks (1.15 per set) with 68 total blocks.
▪ Callender tops the squad in assists (355) followed closely by freshman Nola Hemphill (344).
 
BCU VS. ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF SERIES
▪ Bethune-Cookman leads the series against Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 2-1.
▪ Last season, the Cats took a 3-1 meeting between the two sides in Daytona Beach as part of the MEAC Round-Up.
▪ B-CU also claimed a 3-0 win in Prairie View, Texas, in 2022.
 
SCOUTING THE GOLDEN LIONS
▪ Arkansas-Pine Bluff comes into the weekend with a 3-20 overall record, and a mark of 1-8 in the SWAC.
▪ The Golden Lions have lost their last six consecutive matches, respectively.
▪ Zykia Jones leads the Golden Lions with 209 kills (2.65 per set), followed by Marlina Anderson with 120 kills (1.56 per set).
▪ Anaiah Jordan is the top setter with 361 assists. Teammate Lyla Jones has 214 assists on the campaign.
▪ The digs leader is MacKenzie McDowell (238), followed closely by Jones (206).
▪ UAPB's leaders in blocks are Laila Fortson (64) and Ashanti Butler (45).
 
BCU VS. GRAMBLING STATE SERIES
▪ Grambling State leads the series against Bethune-Cookman, 3-2.
▪ B-CU won the last two meetings including a 3-0 win last season at home in the MEAC Round-Up.
▪ Grambling won the first three meetings in the series dating back to 1998.
▪ Since joining the SWAC, the series is tied 2-2.
 
SCOUTING THE TIGERS
▪ Grambling State owns a record of 8-13 overall and 4-5 in the SWAC.
▪ The Tigers are led in kills by Essence Allen with 247, followed by Lauryn Bourne with 135 kills and Kai Williams with 123.
▪ The two-set system for the Tigers is headed up by Leticia Correa with 332 assists, while teammate Ana Zink has 283 assists.
▪ Three players have 20 service aces for the Tigers – Correa, Zink and Ra'Niya Brown.
▪ Lauryn Bourne has 233 digs to lead Grambling State in that category, while teammates Essence Allen and Dylan Hoskins have 182 assists.
▪ Kennya Sykes has 58 blocks and teammate Ra'Niya Brown has 55.
 
A QUICK LOOK AT THE CATS
2024 Record – 10-11 (.476) // 2024 SWAC Record – 7-2 (.778) // Last 5 Matches – 4-1 (.800) // Last 10 Matches – 7-3 (.700) // Last 15 Matches – 8-7 (.533) // Head Coach Brittany Williams is seeking her 95th all-time victory when facing Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
 
UP NEXT
Bethune-Cookman travels to Alabama A&M (Nov. 1) and Alabama State (Nov. 3) next weekend after taking both matches against the Alabama schools earlier this month.
 
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