GRAMBLING, La. – No. 4 seed Bethune-Cookman will face off against No. 5 seed Texas Southern on Friday afternoon in the quarterfinals of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Volleyball Tournament taking place inside Hobdy Assembly Center on the campus of Grambling State in Grambling, Louisiana. The Wildcats and Tigers square off at 1:30 p.m. CT.
 
MATCH #28: Bethune-Cookman Wildcats vs. Texas Southern Tigers
WHEN: Friday, Nov. 22, at 1:30 p.m. CT
WHERE: Hobdy Assembly Center (Grambling, La.)
LIVE STATS: Click Here
WATCH: SWAC Digital Network
 
IN THE RANKINGS
▪ Bethune-Cookman is not ranked in this week's AVCA Division I Coaches Poll Top 25
▪ Texas Southern 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
▪ Bethune-Cookman has the No. 4 seed in the tournament with an overall record 14-13, as the match against Mississippi Valley State was ruled a "no contest" by the NCAA due to MVSU travel difficulties.
▪ The Wildcats have won eight of their last 10 matches, including their last four true road matches.
▪ Niara Hightower was named SWAC Blocker of the Year for the second consecutive season, as well as being named to the All-SWAC First Team.
▪ Hightower, a senior middle blocker from Wichita Falls, Texas, leads the SWAC with 129 blocks, adding the fourth-highest hitting percentage in the league at a .288 clip.
▪ Jasmine Robinson was tabbed SWAC Newcomer of the Year after leading the Wildcats with 249 kills. The Fleming Island, Florida, native was named SWAC Newcomer of the Week on three occasions in 2024.
▪ Nola Hemphill (450 assists) and Gianna Mora (23 assists) will lead the setter position in the tournament in the absence of Alisha Callender.
▪ The digs are provided by junior libero Rylee Davis (228) and redshirt senior outside hitter Elizabeth Phillips (222). Fellow libero Sydni Poston has 221 digs.
▪ Phillips also has 170 kills and 21 service aces.
▪ Junio middle blocker Mecca Freeman was named B-CU Women's Wildcat of the Week (Nov. 11-17) after hitting .409 last week against Jackson State at home.
 
BCU VS. TEXAS SOUTHERN SERIES
▪ Bethune-Cookman holds a 6-2 advantage in the series that dates back to 1998.
▪ Since joining the SWAC, the series is tied at 2-2.
▪ The Wildcats won the first four matches in the series, including twice in tournament fashion in 2019.
▪ B-CU took the previous meeting this season against TSU in Houston courtesy a 3-1 decision.
 
SCOUTING THE TIGERS
▪ Texas Southern arrives at the SWAC Tournament as the No. 5 seed after turning in a record of 10-18 overall (9-7 SWAC).
▪ The Tigers have won five of their last seven matches against league opposition, including 3-0 wins from Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Grambling State.
▪ Gracie Hill leads the Tigers with 247 kills, followed by Kourtni Collier with 158 kills of her own.
▪ Assists are provided by Kennedi Walker with a team-leading 432. Ava Ray is second on the team with 344 assists.
▪ Angelika Rusin, the 2024 SWAC Libero of the Year, leads TSU with 456 digs (4.65 dig/s).
▪ The blocks are led by Collier with 97 blocks (64 assisted).
 
A QUICK LOOK AT THE CATS
2024 Record – 14-13 (.519) // 2024 SWAC Record – 11-4 (.733) // Last 5 Matches – 3-2 (.600) // Last 10 Matches – 8-2 (.800) // Last 15 Matches – 11-4 (.733) // Head Coach Brittany Williams is seeking her 98th all-time victory when facing Texas Southern.
 
UP NEXT
If Bethune-Cookman advances to the semifinals of the tournament with a win against Texas Southern, then the Wildcats would face the winner of No. 1 Florida A&M vs. No. 8 Alabama State on Saturday at 2 p.m. CT.
 
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