Volleyball MEAC Media Relations

Lady Wildcats Drop Volleyball Season-Opener

Anielle Dasilva had 17 kills while Shari Matthews collected 16 kills of her own to lead North Carolina Central past Bethune-Cookman, 3-1 in the first round of the Florida Gulf Coast Tournament at Alico Arena in Ft. Meyers, Fla.

B-CU (0-1) dropped the season-opener in the first-ever meeting between the two schools.

NCCU (6-4) took the opening game with a score of 30-21 as they went on a 7-0 run to push the lead out to 15-6 midway through the contest. During the run, B-CU committed three errors (one set) to allow the Eagles to push the lead out to an insurmountable advantage. B-CU did fight back into the game to cut the lead at 19-15 as they went on a 5-0 run, but it was too late to collect the victory.

B-CU took the second game with a score of 30-24 behind the efforts of freshman Kaiyana Johnson who helped the Wildcats with four kills in the game.

The final two games of the match provided just too much power from NCCU as they flew past the Wildcats on scores of 30-17 and 30-25 in a greatly contested match overall.

Bethune-Cookman was led by Johnson with 13 kills. Johnson also posted a team-high tying three service aces and match-high tying four blocks (three assists). Danielle Goodrum was right behind Johnson with 10 kills of her own, as well as three service aces and eight digs, defensively.

B-CU sophomore setter Kumiko Chow collected 18 assists alongside freshman Julie Gibson (13) who performed well in her first-ever college match. Freshman Shanicka Reddick, finished with a team-high 11 digs on defense.

As for North Carolina Central, it was three (3) student-athletes in double-figures with Dasilva leading the way with a match-high 17 kills and 13 digs for the Eagles. Shari Matthews finished up with 16 kills and three service aces, while teammate Naima Stennett tallied 10 kills of her own. Stennett also had a match-high tying four blocks (three assists).