MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Bethune-Cookman recorded its second-highest team hitting percentage of the season Sunday afternoon with a .306 clip as the Wildcats took down Alabama State 3-1 at Lockhart Gymnasium in a Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Volleyball matchup in Montgomery, Alabama. The Wildcats took the match on scores of 20-25, 25-23, 25-15, 25-20.
 
After dropping the opening set, Bethune-Cookman (5-11, 2-2 SWAC) took advantage of 10 Hornets hitting errors in the second frame, as well as issuing three service aces – two from senior defensive specialist Rylee Davis, as the Wildcats evened the match at 1-1.
 
Trailing 22-18 in the frame, sophomore outside hitter Amya Jennings tallied back-to-back kills for the Cats, while redshirt sophomore middle blocker Morgan Wingo staked a kill and freshman middle blocker Kaleigh Williams punched a kill of her own to bring the Maroon and Gold to within 23-21. Three consecutive attack errors by the hosts pushed B-CU in front 24-23, allowing graduate transfer libero Sthefany Carvalho to serve an ace and collect the 25-23 win for her side.
 
Despite hitting .269 in the third frame, Alabama State (4-12, 3-1 SWAC) fell behind 16-5 midway through as B-CU used solid play from senior outside Tiyanna Preston along with senior middle Sierra Herndon who combined for nine of the Wildcats 17 kills. ASU's Jyriah Morgan and Kamrynn Clay willed the Hornets back into it at 23-10, also using consecutive service aces from Kaylen Hines in the midst of a 3-0 run. In fact, four of the final five points in the set went to ASU, before Preston's kill off the block attempt from Camille Holloway ended the set, 25-15.
 
The fourth set saw 11 ties and seven lead changes in the most exciting frame of the day.
 
An attack error from the Wildcats was bookended between a pair of Holloway kills allowing the Hornets to claim a 9-7 lead early-on.
 
Jennings responded with two of her match-high 14 kills in the match in a back-to-back effort as B-CU tied the set, 9-9. Ariel Simmons then added a kill of her own while Jennings followed with another to put the Cats ahead, 12-9. A native of Edina, Minnesota, Jennings would finish with seven kills in the set, respectively.
 
Alabama State reclaimed the lead on the strength of a 5-2 run fueled by blocks from Morgan and Hines, as well as an attack error by the Cats. ASU would lead 17-16 after a Zanobia Willis kill to the back line off the set of Sierra Scanlan.
 
B-CU's 4-1 run would be enough to go ahead for good at 20-18 with Herndon recording a kill, along with another service ace from Carvalho. Williams and Simmons combined at the net for a block moments before Preston's kill sealed the win allowing the Cats a split of the Alabama road trip, after suffering a tough 3-2 setback Friday night in Huntsville.
 
For ASU, it was Morgan providing a match-high 16 kills and hitting .282 overall. Hines entered double-figures with 11 kills and four blocks (three assisted). Clay turned in 33 assists, and teammate Brooke Adams collected 10 digs.
 
The Wildcats were anchored in the match by Jennings with a double-double of 14 kills and 12 digs – the 14 kills being a new career high. It was her second consecutive double-double performance of the weekend. Preston finished with 13 kills, giving her double-digit kills performances in three of her last four matches, respectfully. AJ Simmons had 11 kills and two blocks (assisted), while Herndon amassed 10 kills of her own. Williams had five blocks (three assisted), and freshman setter Melissa Gonzalez handed out a team-high 30 assists. Carvalho scooped up a match-high 20 digs and served a pair of aces. Davis finished with three aces of her own.
 
B-CU returns home for its next match against in-state opponent Florida A&M in a SWAC contest taking place at Richard V. Moore Gymnasium on Wednesday, Oct. 8, at 6 p.m.
 
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