FAMU improves to 5-0 in conference play

 

The Florida A&M volleyball team continued to dominate in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) as the Lady Rattlers picked up their fifth consecutive conference win against the Bethune-Cookman Lady Wildcats Friday night.  

The Lady Rattlers swept B-CU 25-12, 25-21, 25-20, improving to 5-0 in the MEAC.

Hundreds of FAMU students filled the AL Lawson Jr. Multipurpose Center to support the Lady Rattlers. The vibrant “Let’s go Rattlers” chant pulsated through the arena as the Lady Rattlers took their places on the court.

The team dominated the first set, but the second set proved to be much more challenging for FAMU. The Lady Rattlers lost focus and their playmaking ability suffered, which allowed the Lady Wildcats to take control. Both teams tied the set four times as they struggled to take over.

At the climax of the second set, the Lady Rattlers used four straight kills to take the lead. Then B-CU cut FAMU’s lead to 20-18 with a 4-2 run. However, the Lady Rattlers were able to take control and pull through to win the set after three more kills.

In the final set, B-CU rallied five straight points to tie the score at 15-15 and took a 17-16 lead.  Shortly after, Yeisha Arcia tied the set at 17 for FAMU. The Lady Rattlers ended the third set with an 8-3 run, propelling the team to victory.

 “Having the support of all the students tonight really meant a lot,” said Libero Karol Marquez, a senior public relations student from Lima, Peru. “I really, really felt the Rattler spirit.”

Teammate Pamela Barrera, a senior Spanish student from Lima, Peru, felt the same as Marquez.

 “When we were low and began to lose focus,” Barrera said, “the cheers from the crowd gave us the strength to push through and to win.”  

FAMU head volleyball coach Tanio Trifonov was glad to hear the cheers of so many supporters as his team rose to victory.

 “Having such the support of such a big crowd  tonight really helped,” Trifonov said.

 

The Lady Rattlers will travel to Jacksonville on Tuesday, Oct. 16, to take on Jacksonville University.