Raleigh, NC – Saint Augustine’s University started it’s Homecoming week off on the right note with an electric five-set CIAA volleyball victory over Winston Salem State University at Emery Gymnasium on Monday, October 20, 2014. The Final Set Scores were 28-26, 20-25, 25-22, 15-25, 15-13.
The win came on a night where Breast Cancer Awareness was on display in front of an abnormally large and booming crowd for a volley ball game. Players and coaches wore pink paraphernalia such as shoe strings, hair ribbons, shirts and shoes and, for Assistant Coach Bruce Cozart, this was a special night for him as he wore a pink polo shirt shirt in honor of his cousin, Ethel Hicks, who was affected by breast cancer.
The Lady Falcons and Lady Rams began the match with an exciting first set as they both came back from 4-plus point deficits and also forced extra serves as they tied at 24-24. Ultimately, the Lady Falcons pulled out the first set 28-26.
Throughout the night the Lady Falcons and Lady Rams flipped-flopped between sets, which ultimately set up a do-or-die fifth set. It seemed as if every time the Lady Falcons won a set they took the next set off; the match could have been won in three straight sets, if they stayed focused. In the final set, tied 13-13 and the intensity level high, the Lady Falcons scored the final two points to earn their second consecutive win.
Team Captain Olivia Porter wowed the crowd as she racked up a career-high 25 points on kill shots and 28 digs to lead the Lady Falcons. Porter (Sr./Bakersfield, CA) recorded yet another kill off an assist from Juliseea Thomas (Jr/St. Croix, US VI) for one point and Akera McPhaul (Fr. Greenboro, NC) blocked a tying shot from the Lady Rams to score the final point.
“Olivia has been phenomenal,” said Lady Falcons Head Coach Nikki Bumpass. “When she gets going, she’s unstoppable, and Juliseea is an all-around good player and our freshmen feed off of them.”
The Lady Falcons slipped past the Lady Rams who entered the game as Southern-Division co-leaders. There also winning at the right time as they are fighting for a spot in the CIAA Volleyball Tournament, so the win was big on multiple levels including building confidence and team comradery.
The Lady Falcons are now 3-4 Southern Division play, 6-7 CIAA play and 8-13 overall as they will get about week off to rest and prepare for a match against Fayetteville State University on Monday, October 27, 2014 at Emery Gymnasium at 6 pm.
By Issa Glivens
