DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Elizabeth Phillips and Amya Jennings posted nine kills each Saturday afternoon as Bethune-Cookman dropped a five-set thriller against Volusia County opponent Stetson in the final match of the 2024 Bash at the Beach hosted by B-CU inside Richard V. Moore Gymnasium. Stetson took the match on scores of 25-17, 23-25, 23-25, 26-24, 15-12.
 
For the second time in as many matches, Bethune-Cookman (1-2) served for the match in the fourth set having taken the second and third sets, respectfully.
 
Amya Jennings, a freshman outside hitter from Edina, Minnesota, produced five of her nine kills on the day in the fourth frame for the Wildcats.
 
The Wildcats trailed 19-17 after a block from Kayla Balfour and Jenna Simmons of Stetson (2-1). Jennings would later deliver back-to-back kills in order to tie the set at 20-all with a shot down the middle off the right side. The Hatters regained the lead twice off the strength of Anabelle Standish and Jenna Simmons with kills for the visitors. But a service error and an attack error allowed the Wildcats to match the set once again, this time at 23-23.
 
B-CU used a service ace from Jennings to step ahead 24-23 and serve for the match.
 
A kill to the back line seemingly was out off the swing off Stetson's Stanish that would've given B-CU the win. However, the ball was called to have been touched, and a challenge stood on the challenge from ninth-year B-CU head coach Brittany Williams, allowing the Hatters to knot the set at 24. The Hatters would collect the final two points to force the decisive fifth set.
 
In the fifth set, the Cats went ahead 8-5 after a kill from Elizabeth Phillips. Bethune-Cookman would keep Stetson at bay using attack errors from the Hatters and another Phillips kill to lead 12-10 late in the match. However, six kills from Jennings in the set – two of which came to close the set and match, were enough to see B-CU drop its second consecutive five-set match of the weekend.
 
Prior to the weekend, B-CU had won its previous two (2) five-set matches dating back to last season against Mississippi Valley State and Southern (La.), respectively.
 
After B-CU fell in the opening set, the Wildcats battled back to outhit the visitors in each of the second and third sets, while Ktyal Price stuffed four blocks in the second set. Ariel "AJ" Simmons also added four blocks (three assisted) in the second set sparking B-CU to the win.
 
The Hatters were led by Standish with 27 kills, making her way onto the all-tournament team in the process. Setter Nyah Molina joined Standish on the all-tournament team as she delivered a match-high 56 assists and 20 digs for Stetson, adding six kills and a service ace. Simmons finished the day with 13 kills and 18 digs to complete her double-double.
 
For Bethune-Cookman Phillips was just short of a double-double with her nine kills and 15 digs. Jennings ended with nine kills and 14 digs, falling just short of her first collegiate double-double as well. Nola Hemphill had her first B-CU double-double with 21 assists and 12 digs, while Rylee Davis also pulled in a team-high matching 15 digs as a libero.
 
The Cats return to action Friday, Sept. 6, when traveling to the ORU Classic hosted by Oral Roberts in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
 
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