THE HILL | Rayishon Jackson and
Fatima Ramirez combined for 45 kills as the Alabama A&M University volleyball team held off Bethune-Cookman in a Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) five-set thriller, 3-2, on Friday night at T.M. Elmore Gymnasium.
Bethune-Cookman (4-11 overall, 1-2 SWAC) jumped out to a big lead to take the first set, 25-17. Alabama A&M (12-3, 3-0) tied the match at 1 in the second set with a 25-14 win and took a 2-1 lead with a 25-18 third-set victory. The Wildcats fought off three straight match points and rallied for the 26-24 victory in the fourth set. In the deciding fifth set, AAMU jumped out to a lead and didn't let up, defeating BCU, 15-9, to win the match.
Alabama A&M, off to its best conference start since 2019, finished with 67 kills, 99 digs, 66 assists, 6.0 total team blocks and five service aces.
Jackman, the SWAC's Newcomer of the Week, recorded a double-double of 23 kills and 20 digs, along with two service aces and one assist to pace the Bulldogs. Ramirez added a double-double of 22 kills (hitting .383) and 12 digs, two block assists and one assist.
Nisaan Martinez posted 11 kills and seven digs.
Briana Smith and
Kaydee Smith dished out 36 and 21 assists, respectively, while
Kelani Talakai, the SWAC's Defensive Player of the Week, led the defense with 40 digs.
Bethune-Cookman finished with 59 kills, 80 digs, 51 assists, 12.0 total team blocks and one service ace.
Tiyanna Preston led the Wildcat offense with 17 kills, four digs and one block solo. Amaya Jennings posted a double-double of 15 digs and 11 kills, while Ariel Simmons added 11 kills. Nola Hemphill dished out 27 assists and 11 digs, while Melissa Gonzalez tallied a double-double of 16 assists and 11 digs. Sthefany Carvalho chipped in 15 digs.
UP NEXT
Alabama A&M returns to action on Sunday versus Florida A&M. First serve is set for 12 p.m. from T.M. Elmore Gymnasium.
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