JACKSON, Miss. – Following a 1-1 start to conference play, the Wildcats will hit the road for a three-game stretch, beginning with matchups in Mississippi against Jackson State and MVSU. Friday's game against the Tigers will start at 7 p.m., while the tilt with the Delta Devils is set for Sunday at 3 p.m.


 
Game #1
Friday, October 2
Opponent: Jackson State (7-9, 3-0 SWAC)
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Jackson, Miss. | Lee E. Williams Athletics and Assembly Center
Watch: Click here
Live Stats: Click here

Game #2
Sunday, October 4
Opponent: Mississippi Valley State (1-11, 0-3 SWAC)
Time: 3 p.m.
Location: Itta Bena, Miss. | R.W. Harrison HPER Complex
Watch: Click here
Live Stats: Click here

 

Bethune-Cookman (5-7, 1-1) got off to a fast start during the first set, taking a 4-1 lead which included two early kills from Alayah Rhodes. But Alabama State (2-13, 0-2) quickly grabbed the lead and took control, going on a 9-2 scoring run to make it 10-6 Hornets.

The Wildcats were able to rally and eventually tie the game at 19, but ASU outscored B-CU 6-3 the rest of the way to thwart the comeback and win the first set. The Hornets hit .294 in the first set compared to just .188 for the Wildcats.

The second set was close early, but the Wildcats stormed out ahead using a 9-2 scoring run to take a 14-9 lead. The Hornets would then score four straight to cut the deficit back to one.

The score remained close at the end of the set, but Bethune-Cookman made the plays down the stretch to even the score at one set apiece. Talibah Hamlett secured the final point for B-CU on a kill assisted by Rhodes.

Set three was dominated by the Wildcats as the took an early 10-2 lead and never looked back. The Hornets were unable to pull within striking distance, hitting just .086. B-CU meanwhile hit .385, its highest percentage of the game, and recorded five blocks.

Bethune-Cookman finished out the win in the fourth set. A 6-1 scoring run gave them the cushion they needed, and the Hornets were unable to rally.

Jackson State
The Tigers are 7-9 overall on the season but have gotten off to a 3-0 start in SWAC play. They won a back-and-forth game against Prairie View A&M in five sets during their conference opener before closing out a four-set victory over Texas Southern. JSU also swept Mississippi Valley State on the road.

JSU is one of the better offensive teams overall, sitting in the top half of the conference in points, kills, and hitting percentage.

Preseason All-SWAC Second-Teamer Hope Briggs is the team's leader in most offensive categories. The senior ranks fourth in the SWAC in kills (178) and seventh in kills per set (2.97). She finished with seven kills on just 14 total attacks in the win over MVSU.

Defensively, the Tigers sit third in total blocks, first in total digs, and first in opponent hitting percentage. Gianelle Asomani leads the SWAC with 252 digs, averaging 4.2 per set., while Shelby Zanders leads the team with 41.0 total blocks.

Mississippi Valley State
MVSU is sitting at 1-11 on the year and are 0-3 in the SWAC. They are in the midst of an eight-game losing skid and have yet to defeat a Division I opponent this season.

The Devils currently sit last in the league in points, hitting percentage, kills, assists, and service aces. Junior Taylor Wooten leads the way with 76 kills on 298 total attacks.

On defense, MVSU ranks 11th in total blocks and 12th in digs. Aniya Morton is one of the SWAC's best middle blockers, placing seventh in the conference in blocks and third in blocks per set.




The Wildcats are 4-9 in the all-time series against Jackson State and have lost the last six meetings.

Meanwhile, the Delta Devils are searching for their first win over Bethune-Cookman in program history, having lost all 10 previous matchups

 
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