HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Ariel "AJ" Simmons hit .368 for the match with eight kills Friday evening as Bethune-Cookman defeated Alabama A&M, 3-0 as part of a Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Volleyball match inside T.M. Elmore Gymnasium in Huntsville, Alabama.
 
Bethune-Cookman (13-11, 10-2 SWAC) collected its seventh consecutive victory on scores of 25-17, 25-19, 25-20.
 
The Wildcats held host Alabama A&M (5-18, 3-8 SWAC) to a negative hitting clip in two of the three sets played, including a -.077 mark in the final set.
 
AJ Simmons, a junior middle blocker from Miami, Florida, supplied the visitors with three kills in the opening set. The Doral Academy alum placed three-of-five hits successfully for a .600 hitting mark, while senior Alisha Callender added two kills and three assists from her setter position on the court.
 
Callender would finish the match with a match-high tying 12 assists overall.
 
The Wildcats never trailed in the opening frame, closing the set on a 5-2 run with back-to-back kills from Simmons and Jasmine Robinson, the reigning back-to-back SWAC Newcomer of the Week.
 
The second set would see seven ties and three lead changes as Alabama A&M's top hitter Fatima Ramirez collected five kills for the Bulldogs. Nisaan Martinez also supplied the Dogs with three kills. But with the score tied at 19-19, Bethune-Cookman scored the final six points of the set to collect the win.
 
A Ktyal Price kill began the scoring rally, aided by an Elizabeth Phillips kill, along with three consecutive AAMU attack errors to close the frame.
 
It would be B-CU's Simmons tallying four kills in the third set while teammates Mecca Freeman and Price supplied the Cats with two kills in a set that was the closest of the night. In all, the score changed hands eight times and stood tied 10 times. Ultimately, it would be a 7-2 B-CU run down the stretch that allowed the Cats to complete a season sweep of the Bulldogs, as well as taking four of the last five meetings between the two sides.
 
The score was 18-18 when Simmons placed a kill down the line, followed by one of her two blocks on the night. Simmons would make it 21-19 with yet another kill, immediately followed by blocks from Niara Hightower and Simmons, respectively. A service error by the Bulldogs would secure the win for the Cats.
 
Ramirez led all players on the night with a match-high 10 kills, and setter Grace Tapscott provided 10 assists for the Bulldogs. Laela Price delivered four service aces, while Bailey Duckett joined Ramirez with a team-high matching 10 digs.
 
For B-CU, it was Simmons leading the way offensively with eight kills – two shy of matching her season-high in that department. Hightower added four blocks (two solo), and both Callender and freshman setter Nola Hemphill chipped in with a match-high tying 12 assists each. Junior libero Rylee Davis had 12 digs – her 10th time eclipsing double-digit digs on the season, and second consecutive match, respectfully.
 
Bethune-Cookman next travels to Alabama State to complete the weekend road stretch with a SWAC matchup taking place Sunday, Nov. 3, at 4 p.m. ET, inside Lockhart Gymnasium on the ASU campus in Montgomery, Alabama.
 
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