KNOXVILLE, Tenn. | Fatima Ramirez and
Nisaan Martinez combined for 23 kills as the Alabama A&M University volleyball team rallied for a 3-2 victory over Rider on Friday afternoon to conclude play at the UT Knoxville Tournament at the Food City Center.
Alabama A&M took the opening set, 25-18, but Rider answered in the second with a 25-20 win, tying the match at 1. The Broncos broke the tie with a 25-17 victory in the third, but back came the Bulldogs in the fourth with a 25-16 win to force a deciding set. In the final set, the Maroon and White held off a late charge for the 15-8 win.
Alabama A&M (9-3) finished with 49 kills, 54 digs, 47 assists, 11 service aces and 10.0 total team blocks.
Ramirez led the way offensively with 12 kills, eight digs, one assist and one service ace, while Martinez chipped in 11 kills, with a .348 hitting percentage. She also added seven blocks, two digs and one service ace.
Rayishon Jackman finished just shy of a double-double, recording 11 digs, nine kills, three service aces and one block.
Briana Smith and
Kaydee Smith dished out 24 and 17 assists, respectively and
Kelani Talakai paced the defense with 17 digs.
Rider (2-8) finished with 51 kills, 50 digs, 48 assists, 11.0 total team blocks and six service aces.
Ania Kelly paced the Broncos with 12 kills, four blocks and one assist. Brynn Johnson registered nine kills, three digs, one block, one assist and one service ace. Makenna Mason and Grace Borys handed out 23 and 15 assists, respectively. Defensively, Keegan O'Connor tallied a team-high 16 digs.
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Alabama A&M opens Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) play on Sunday, September 28 as the Bulldogs welcome Grambling State to T.M. Elmore Gymnasium. First serve is scheduled for 12 p.m.
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