Bethune-Cookman University Athletics

GREENVILLE, N.C. – Bethune-Cookman battled back from a two-set deficit Saturday afternoon, rallying to defeat Radford, 3-2 (13-25, 18-25, 25-21, 26-24, 15-9), at Williams Arena at Minges. The win is the Wildcats first of the young season, as they finish 1-2 at the Pirate Invitational.

Radford (1-1) controlled the opening two sets, taking the first 25-13 before earning a 25-18 victory in the second. Bethune-Cookman (1-2) struggled to find its rhythm early, hitting .129 in the opening frame and .082 in the second as the Highlanders built a 2-0 match advantage.

The Wildcats began their comeback in the third set. After Radford opened with a 3-1 advantage, B-CU answered with a 4-0 run to take a 5-3 lead. The Wildcats continued to build on the momentum, using another stretch of strong play to move ahead 8-3 before Radford trimmed the deficit.

B-CU maintained its advantage through the middle of the set, leading 15-9 before the Highlanders began to rally. Radford eventually cut the margin to 18-15, but the Wildcats answered with consecutive points to regain control. Radford made one final push late, pulling within 24-21, but Moriah Johnson delivered the set-clinching kill as B-CU won 25-21.

Bethune-Cookman carried that momentum into the fourth set. The Wildcats jumped ahead 7-4 behind kills from Johnson and Alaya Rhodes, then extended the lead to 10-7. Radford responded with a 4-0 run to take an 11-10 advantage, setting up another back-and-forth battle.

The Highlanders led 18-16 late before B-CU rallied to tie the set at 18-18. Radford again moved ahead, reaching 23-20, but the Wildcats refused to let the match end. B-CU scored three straight points to tie the frame at 23-23, then exchanged points with Radford until the set reached 24-24. Johnson delivered back-to-back kills to finish the comeback, giving the Wildcats a 26-24 victory and forcing a deciding fifth set.

B-CU took control immediately in the fifth. The Wildcats opened the deciding frame with a 3-0 run, highlighted by a Kylynn White ace and a block from Rhodes and Kaleigh Williams. Radford answered to pull within 3-2, but B-CU continued to maintain the advantage.

With the score 7-6, the Wildcats scored six of the next seven points to build a commanding 13-7 lead. Radford fought off two match points to make it 14-9, but Williams closed out the comeback with a kill, giving Bethune-Cookman a 15-9 fifth-set victory and the 3-2 match win.

• Moriah Johnson led B-CU with 19 kills, adding nine digs and two service aces. Johnson recorded eight kills in the fourth set, helping B-CU stave off elimination and force the fifth.
• Alaya Rhodes finished with 17 kills and 16 digs, recording a double-double.
• Kylynn White contributed five kills, 20 assists and 14 digs.
• Nola Hemphill recorded 24 assists and 13 digs.
• Taylor Ellis led the Wildcats defensively with 17 digs.
• Kaleigh Williams posted six kills, four blocks and eight points.
• Sienna Lawrence and Sydnee Rodriguez each recorded four kills.
• Bethune-Cookman finished with 59 kills, 83 digs, six service aces and seven team blocks.
• B-CU's offense improved as the match progressed, hitting .171 in the third set, .240 in the fourth and .350 in the decisive fifth set.
• The Wildcats hit .350 in the fifth set, recording 10 kills against just three errors.
• The Wildcats' 26-24 fourth-set victory featured five ties and forced the deciding fifth set.