DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Bethune-Cookman Volleyball returns home to Moore Gymnasium for the first time since August, as the Wildcats play host to Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) opponents Alabama A&M and Alabama State this weekend. The Wildcats host AAMU on Friday, Oct. 4, before ASU visits on Sunday, Oct. 6.
 
MATCH #15: Bethune-Cookman Wildcats vs. Alabama A&M Bulldogs
WHEN: Friday, Oct. 4, at 6 p.m. ET
WHERE: Richard V. Moore Gymnasium (Daytona Beach, Fla.)
LIVE STATS: Click here
WATCH: CatEye Network
 
MATCH #16: Bethune-Cookman Wildcats vs. Alabama State Hornets
WHEN: Sunday, Oct. 6, at Noon ET
WHERE: Richard V. Moore Gymnasium (Daytona Beach, Fla.)
LIVE STATS: Click here
WATCH: CatEye Network
 
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
 
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: White Out
▪ B-CU is asking everyone to wear WHITE in coordination with the team.
 
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 is seeking win number 23 all-time in SWAC play this weekend as the Wildcats welcome the AAMU Bulldogs to Daytona Beach.
▪ Senior middle blocker Niara Hightower is closing in on 300 career blocks, now owning 258 in her B-CU career.
▪ Jasmine Robinson, a senior outside hitter from Fleming Island, Florida, leads the Wildcats with 113 kills (2.22 k/s). Meanwhile, freshman outside hitter Amya Jennings is second on the team with 82 kills (2.22 k/s).
▪ Last weekend at Mississippi Valley State, redshirt senior middle blocker Ktyal Price set the school record for hitting percentage in a match (.909). On the night, she registered 10 kills on 11 swings against zero (0) errors.
▪ Head Coach Brittany Williams' two-setter system is highlighted by Alisha Callender (240 assists) and Nola Hemphill (232 assists).
▪ Five different Wildcats have tallied 10 or more service aces on the campaign, including Callender (15), Hemphill (12) and junior libero/defensive specialist Rylee Davis (12).
▪ B-CU has three players with 100 or better digs – Callender (128), Davis (122) and Sydni Poston (100).
▪ Hightower has a team-leading 63 blocks (45 assisted) to lead the SWAC, while averaging 1.13 blocks per set.
▪ Mecca Freeman, a junior outside hitter from Houston, Texas, is ninth in the SWAC for hitting percentage (.231), while Hightower is fourth in that department (.250).
 
BCU VS. ALABAMA A&M SERIES
▪ Alabama A&M holds the all-time series lead between the two teams by a slim 5-4 margin.
▪ Since 2022, the two teams have split the season series meetings, with the home sides holding serve each time.
▪ The series began in 1998, with the Bulldogs taking the first three meetings.
▪ At home, B-CU has won three of the four meetings all-time.
▪ Since joining the SWAC, B-CU has a 4-2 advantage.
 
SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS
▪ Alabama A&M arrives to Daytona Beach with a 3-10 overall record, but a similar 1-1 mark in league play as the Wildcats.
▪ The Bulldogs defeated Arkansas-Pine Bluff 3-0 on the road last weekend, while suffering a 3-1 setback to Grambling State in Louisiana.
▪ AAMU began the season 3-1 in the Betty Austin Invitational having defeated Idaho and Oral Roberts, respectfully.
▪ A pair of players lead the team in kills – Fatima Ramirez (143) and Saldy Amparo-Smith (124).
▪ Assists are supplied by primary setter Grace Tapscott, as she owns 230 across the campaign.
▪ Michell Jerez tops the team in defense with 131 digs, while teammate Amparo-Smith owns a team-leading 20 blocks (17 assisted).
 
BCU VS. ALABAMA STATE SERIES
▪ Bethune-Cookman holds a 9-7 edge over Alabama State in the all-time series that dates back to October 6, 2000.
▪ All nine of B-CU's wins came prior to the Wildcats joining the SWAC.
▪ Alabama State has won the last seven matches dating back to October 15, 2021, in Daytona Beach.
▪ Last year, the Hornets swept both meetings at home and on the road, respectfully.
 
SCOUTING THE HORNETS
▪ Veteran head coach Penny Lucas-White and the Hornets arrive to the "Sunshine State" with a 5-20 overall record, and a perfect 2-0 mark in SWAC play. ASU first faces off against Florida A&M on Friday, Oct. 4, before coming to Daytona Beach.
▪ Last weekend, the Hornets grabbed a pair of five-set wins from Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Grambling State, respectively.
▪ The kills are supplied by A'Nyiah Cobb (102) in addition to teammates Kaylen Hines (84) and Jyriah Morgan (82).
▪ The Hornets use a two-setter system with Kamrynn Clay (249 assists) leading the bunch, followed by Sierra Scanian (192 assists).
▪ Defensively, it is libero Temperance Chatman leading the team with 92 digs. Cobb is second on the squad in digs with 72 under her belt.
▪ The Hornets' leader in blocks is Zanobia Willis (37). Two other players have 20-plus blocks in the form of Hines (28) and Christyn Ashby (21).
 
A QUICK LOOK AT THE CATS
2024 Record – 4-10 (.286) // 2024 SWAC Record – 1-1 (.500) // Last 5 Matches – 1-4 (.200) // Last 10 Matches – 3-7 (.300) // Last 15 Matches – 4-11 (.267) // Head Coach Brittany Williams is seeking her 88th and 89th all-time victories, respectfully.
 
UP NEXT
Bethune-Cookman travels to Florida A&M for an in-state SWAC meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 9, at 6 p.m., in Tallahassee, Florida.
 
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