DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The volleyball regular season will come to a close this weekend, as Bethune-Cookman will host two final matchups with Jackson State and Mississippi Valley State at Moore Gymnasium.

After splitting the two games in Texas, the Wildcats sit at 9-5 in SWAC play, placing them in a three-way tie for the fourth seed with Grambling State and JSU.


 
Game #1
Friday, November 13
Opponent: Jackson State (13-14, 9-5)
Time: 6 p.m. EST
Location: Daytona Beach, Fla. | Moore Gymnasium
Watch: Click here
Listen: Click here
Live Stats: Click here

Game #2
Sunday, November 15
Opponent: Mississippi Valley State (1-22, 0-14)
Location: Daytona Beach, Fla. | Moore Gymnasium
Time: 12 p.m. EST
Watch: Click here
Listen: Click here
Live Stats: Click here

 

 In a game in which the two teams combined for nearly 200 digs, the Wildcats came out on top, earning a five-set come-from-behind victory over Texas Southern Health & Physical Education Arena.

Texas Southern built up an early 8-2 lead in set one and would never trail the rest of the way, taking the set 25-15.

The Tigers built another big lead in set two as Aaliyah Brown's kill made it 17-9 TSU. Bethune-Cookman (13-11, 9-5) had answers this time though, as they would generate a 17-4 run, clinching the set on kills by Leila Hargrove and Alaya Rhodes.

The third set was back-and-forth the whole was, with both teams going on multiple lengthy scoring runs. The Tigers again had a big lead up 19-13, but B-CU quickly scored five straight to get back within one.

TSU was able to hold on for the victory this time, scoring six of the final nine points to go up 2-1.

Bethune-Cookman set the tone early in set four, scoring the first five points and dominating the rest of the way. Texas Southern got within four but never closer as the Cats forced a fifth set.

The Tigers began the final set with a 3-0 lead before the Wildcats tied the game at four. After TSU went up 6-5, B-CU would score six striaght to go up 11-6.

Texas Southern did not throw in the towel just yet with 6-1 run to tie the game at 12. The teams were neck and neck until the very end, when B-CU scored two in a row to escape with a victory.

Kills by Rhodes and Kaycee Pennie gave the Wildcats a 17-15 set victory for their ninth conference win of the year.

Jackson State
The Tigers recently had a four-game winning streak snapped at home against Alabama State, who beat them in three sets. The Hornets have had their number this season, sweeping the season series despite just six total SWAC wins. 

JSU sits fourth in the SWAC in points, third in hitting percentage, second in assists, and third in kills. Hope Briggs leads the team with 307 kills, good for sixth in the league.

Defensively, the Tigers are allowing a .183 hitting percentage to opponents, which ranks second behind Bethune-Cookman. They are also fourth in total blocks and seventh in blocks per game.

Mississippi Valley State
The Delta Devils are still searching for their first win in conference play and over a Division I opponent this season, They have won just four sets total against SWAC opponents.

Taylor Wooten leads the squad with 150 kills, while Aniyah Moore has been one of the league's top blockers with 59.0 on the year.




The Wildcats' win over the TIgers earlier this season snapped a six-game losing streak in the all-time series. JSU still leads nine games to five.

B-CU is undefeated (11-0) against Mississippi Valley State in its history.
 
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