Alayah Rhodes recorded a double-double with 21 kills and 15 digs as Bethune-Cookman University Athletics Women’s Volleyball defeated Jackson State 3-1 on Oct. 2 at the Lee E. Williams Athletics and Assembly Center in Jackson, Mississippi.
Bethune-Cookman won the match by set scores of 26-24, 25-19, 21-25 and 25-22. The victory moved Bethune-Cookman to 6-7 overall and 2-1 in Southwestern Athletic Conference play, while Jackson State fell to 7-10 overall and 3-1 in the conference.
The result ended Bethune-Cookman’s six-match losing streak against Jackson State and marked the Wildcats’ first road victory over the Tigers. Rhodes led Bethune-Cookman in both kills and digs during the conference match.
Bethune-Cookman takes control early
The opening set remained close, with Bethune-Cookman’s largest lead coming at 14-11. Jackson State tied the score at 24, but the Wildcats won the final two points to take a 1-0 lead. Rhodes and Leila Hargrove recorded the closing kills, with assists from Kylynn White and Aaniya Thornton.
Bethune-Cookman recorded five blocks in the first set, including three from Hargrove. Jackson State had four more kills than the Wildcats in the set but also committed six attack errors.
The second set followed a similar pattern until Bethune-Cookman pulled away after the score reached 17-all. The Wildcats won eight of the final 10 rallies, with Rhodes adding four kills during that stretch. Bethune-Cookman held a 13-12 edge in kills for the set, while Jackson State again committed six attack errors.
Wildcats answer Jackson State’s comeback
Bethune-Cookman opened the third set with a 3-0 lead, but Jackson State quickly tied the score. The Tigers later built a 20-17 advantage before Bethune-Cookman rallied to even the set at 21. Jackson State then scored the next four points, with Parker Featherstone recording the final two kills on assists from Naija Gadis.
Jackson State carried that momentum into the fourth set and built a three-point lead. Bethune-Cookman answered with a 12-5 scoring run, but the Tigers tied the set at 19 and took a one-point lead after two Bethune-Cookman attack errors.
The Wildcats closed the match by winning the final four points in a row. Moriah Johnson recorded two kills during the decisive run, and White provided both assists as Bethune-Cookman secured the 3-1 victory.
Rhodes leads balanced statistical effort
Bethune-Cookman finished with seven blocks, led by three each from Talibah Hamlett and Hargrove. Nola Hemphill recorded 21 assists, while White added 15 assists. Thornton also finished with 15 digs.
The Wildcats hit .182 for the match and held Jackson State to a .115 hitting percentage. Hope Briggs led the Tigers with 12 kills, while Kyra Dove recorded five blocks, including two solo blocks.
What comes next for Bethune-Cookman
Bethune-Cookman’s listed schedule showed the next match at Mississippi Valley State on Oct. 4 at 3 p.m. The listed schedule also included a match at Florida A&M on Oct. 7 at 6 p.m., a home match against Grambling State on Oct. 9 at 6 p.m. and a home match against Arkansas – Pine Bluff on Oct. 11 at noon.
The schedule further listed a home match against Florida A&M on Oct. 16 at 6 p.m. and a home match against Alcorn on Oct. 23 at 6 p.m. The recap also stated that Bethune-Cookman would face Alabama State on Sunday afternoon at Moore Gymnasium, with the match beginning at noon.
FSB Take
Bethune-Cookman combined Rhodes’ double-double with seven blocks and a four-point closing run to defeat Jackson State on the road. The Wildcats won the first two sets, absorbed the Tigers’ response in the third and finished the fourth set decisively. The victory gave Bethune-Cookman a 2-1 start in Southwestern Athletic Conference play and its first road win over Jackson State.
Source: Original report