Bethune-Cookman defeated Grambling State 3-1 on Oct. 9 at Moore Gymnasium in Tallahassee, Fla., winning three consecutive sets after dropping the opener. Bethune-Cookman won 19-25, 25-15, 25-21, 25-15 to improve to 8-8 overall and 4-2 in Southwestern Athletic Conference play.
Alaya Rhodes led Bethune-Cookman with a season-high 24 kills and a .419 hitting percentage. Rhodes also recorded her eighth double-double of the season. Bethune-Cookman hit .268 for the match, compared with .176 for Grambling State, which fell to 6-9 overall and 3-1 in conference play.
Bethune-Cookman responds after opening-set loss
Grambling State built a 12-6 lead in the opening set and went on a seven-point run to create separation. Bethune-Cookman stayed within reach but could not erase the deficit as Grambling State took the set 25-19.
Bethune-Cookman answered quickly in the second set by taking a 7-4 lead. The Wildcats maintained control to win 25-15, with 17 kills and four blocks in the set. Grambling State recorded eight kills and seven errors while hitting .025.
Rhodes and Bethune-Cookman take control
Moriah Johnson’s service ace gave Bethune-Cookman a 13-8 lead in the third set. Grambling State cut the margin to 22-20, but Sienna Lawrence followed with two consecutive kills off assists from Nola Hemphill. Bethune-Cookman took the set 25-21 after Grambling State committed an attack error.
Hemphill tied her career high with 30 assists. Aaniya Thornton added 12 digs and four assists, while Talibah Hamlett contributed six kills, three block assists and one solo block.
Wildcats finish the four-set victory
Bethune-Cookman opened the fourth set with an 11-3 lead and maintained control through a 25-15 victory. The win completed the Wildcats’ three-set response after the opening-set setback.
No Grambling State player reached 10 kills. Asialin Powell recorded 24 digs for the Tigers.
Upcoming Bethune-Cookman matches
Bethune-Cookman will host Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Sunday, Oct. 11, at noon Eastern time. The Wildcats will then host Florida A&M on Oct. 16 at 6 p.m., Alcorn on Oct. 23 at 6 p.m. and Southern (La.) on Oct. 25 at noon.
Bethune-Cookman will play at Alabama A&M on Oct. 30 at 7 p.m. and at Alabama State on Nov. 1 at 1 p.m.
FSB Take
Bethune-Cookman’s ability to recover after losing the first set defined the match. Rhodes supplied the offensive production, while Hemphill, Thornton and Hamlett contributed in the key statistical areas that supported three straight set victories. The result moved Bethune-Cookman to 4-2 in Southwestern Athletic Conference play ahead of its home match against Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
Source: Original report