TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Farah Farooq's 17 kills helped the Florida A&M Rattlers defeat Bethune-Cookman 3-1. The loss mark the Cats seconds straight and drops them to 10-4 in SWAC play.



Bethune-Cookman (13-13, 10-4 SWAC) and Alabama State (9-16, 7-7 SWAC) went back-and-forth to begin the match. A kill by senior Sierra Herndon knotted the set at five a-piece. The Rattlers would then take control of the set, scoring the next five straight points to gain separation. The Wildcats could not halt their momentum, losing the set 25-16.

B-CU found themselves behind early in the second set. An attack error by Amya Jennings gave Florida A&M a 9-6 lead. The Wildcats would quickly turn the tide though, going on a 5-0 scoring run of their own to take an 11-9 lead. From here on, the set would be tightly contested with neither team able to build a substantial lead. 

With the score tied at 25, Amya Jennings came up with a crucial kill to give the Wildcats a one-point advantage and a chance to take the set. Florida A&M quickly had an answer as Farah Farooq tied the game with a kill of her own. After two attack errors from B-CU, the Rattlers were able to win set two 28-26.

The Wildcats got off to a dominant start in set three, scoring the first eight points. The Rattlers were unable to recover as B-CU was able to take the set with relative ease.

Set four began in a similar fashion to set one with neither team able to go on a substantial run. Sierra Herndon's kill off a Sydney Whitfield assist tied the set at 10. The Rattlers would then score four of the next five points to give them a four point cushion. B-CU would quickly tie the game again at 14 with three straight points.

An attack error by the WIldcats would give FAMU a 16-15 advantage, but Bethune-Cookman continued to fight, taking the lead back with another 3-0 run. Unfortunately, the Rattlers once again had an answer as they scored the next five point to give themselves the lead for good. Florida A&M took the set by a score of 25-21, which gave them a 3-1 win in the match.

• Amya Jennings once again led the way for the Wildcats with 15 kills.
• Sthevany Carvalho accumulated 20 digs.
• Tiyanna Preston finished with 12 kills, 10 digs, and three block-assists
• Mellissa Gonzalez and Nola Hemphill each finished with 20+ assists.