FORT VALLEY, Ga. — South Carolina State women's volleyball bounced back from a second-set setback and closed strong Tuesday night, defeating Fort Valley State 3-1 in nonconference action at the Health and Physical Education Complex.
The Lady Bulldogs (4-11) earned the road victory by scores of
25-22, 15-25, 25-23 and 25-23. Fort Valley State fell to 4-8. The match featured 26 ties and 15 lead changes, with SC State finding ways to finish the tight sets.
SC State finished with
47 kills, 36 assists, 10 service aces and 66 digs. The Bulldogs were led offensively by
Amani Hawkins, who recorded a team-high 12 kills while hitting .296.
Kenna Harris followed with 11 kills and added two block assists, while
Taelyn Graham contributed six kills, two service aces and two block assists.
The Lady Bulldogs also received strong production from their setters and back row.
Arianna James dished out a team-high 17 assists to go along with nine digs and two service aces, while
Macey McCoy added 13 assists and seven digs.
Jordan Dalland and
Ki'ra Wright each collected 13 digs, while
Chloe Neal added 12.
SC State opened the match by taking a competitive first set, 25-22. With the score tied at 21, the Bulldogs pushed ahead behind a Fort Valley State setting error, a kill from
De'oni McPherson and an attack error before Hawkins delivered the set-clinching kill.
Fort Valley State responded in the second set, using a late run to pull away for a 25-15 win and even the match at one set apiece. SC State struggled offensively in the frame, recording seven kills against 10 attack errors.
The Lady Bulldogs regained control in the third. SC State totaled 14 kills and produced a 65% sideout rate on the way to a 25-23 victory. Harris was instrumental down the stretch, recording three of SC State's final six kills, including the set winner.
The fourth set proved to be another battle. SC State trailed
20-16 before mounting a late rally. Hawkins helped spark the comeback with a pair of kills, Graham delivered a service ace to give the Lady Bulldogs a 22-21 advantage, and McPherson later tied the set at 23. After a Fort Valley State setting error put SC State at match point, Harris delivered the final kill for the
25-23 victory, securing the four-set road win.
Fort Valley State finished with 36 kills and a .154 hitting percentage. Caytlyn Sanford led the Wildcats with 11 kills, while Dakotah Holmes added seven kills and four service aces.
The victory marked another positive result for SC State away from home, with the Lady Bulldogs winning three of the four sets despite a closely contested match that lasted 1 hour, 55 minutes in front of an announced crowd of 500.
