Lady Falcons Stun Winston-Salem State in Homecoming Volleyball Win

Box Score RALEIGH, N.C. – Saint Augustine's University started Homecoming week with a satisfying five-set CIAA volleyball victory over Winston-Salem State University at Emery Gymnasium on Monday, October 20, 2014. The scores were 28-26, 20-25, 25-22, 15-25, 15-13.

The victory was especially sweet for Lady Falcons assistant coach Bruce Cozart. The match was played in honor of those affected by breast cancer including Ethel Hicks, the cousin of Cozart. The Lady Falcons wore pink paraphernalia such as shoestrings and warm-up T-shirts.

"Tonight, we played for a greater cause," Lady Falcons Head Coach Nikki Bynum Bumpass said. "We played with intensity throughout the match."

The score was tied 13-13 in the fifth and final set, but the Lady Falcons scored the last two points for their second consecutive win. Olivia Porter (Sr./Bakersfield, CA) recorded a kill off an assist from Juliseea Thomas (Jr./St. Croix, US VI) for a one-point lead. Akera McPhaul (Fr./Greensboro, NC) finished off the Lady Rams with a block.

Team captains Porter and Thomas helped the Lady Falcons (3-4 Southern Division, 6-7 CIAA, 8-13 overall) slip past the Lady Rams, who entered the match as Southern Division co-leaders. Porter registered career-highs of 25 kills and 28 digs to lead the Lady Falcons. She surpassed her previous career-high of 21 kills set in her last match, a five-set win over Elizabeth City State University last week. Thomas registered 24 assists and 16 digs in addition to nine kills.

"Olivia has been phenomenal," Bumpass said. "When she gets going, she is unstoppable. Juliseea is an all-around good player. Our freshmen feed off them."

The duo headed a collective effort against the Lady Rams (5-2 Southern Division, 10-3 CIAA, 11-10 overall). Danyelle Noland (Fr./Nashville, NC) chipped in a career-high 13 kills and Marley Parker (Fr./Langley, British Columbia) had 24 digs, which is a career-high for her. Mikayla Pettyjohn (Fr./Jamestown, NC) had eight kills to go along with five blocks.

Meghan Mahon (So./Houston, TX) finished with 19 assists and McPhaul had six kills and two blocks. Dionna Hopkins (Jr./St. Croix, US VI) also had two blocks.

The Lady Falcons started slowly in the first set. They fell behind 18-12, but Porter recorded a kill off a Thomas assist to tie the score at 24-24. Thomas capped the rally with a kill off a Parker assist to give the Lady Falcons a 28-26 first-set win. Porter had seven kills and eight digs in the first set.

After the Lady Rams won the second set, the Lady Falcons regrouped to pull out the third set. Porter led the Lady Falcons with six kills and Parker had nine digs in the third set.

The Lady Rams captured the fourth set to tie the match at 2-2. In the final set, the Lady Falcons opened a 7-3 lead, but the Lady Rams surged ahead 10-9. From that point, the match was tied four times before the Lady Falcons scored the final two points for the big win. Porter had three kills and five digs in the final set.

Bumpass says there were several keys to victory.

"We stretched out the middle hitters and made them run antennae to antennae," Bumpass said. "We made the strong hitters play defense, and just kept coming at them. We showed them more weapons. Folks are used to seeing Porter hitting but they haven't seen Akera, Danyelle and Mikayla hit like that."

This was a signature victory for the youthful Lady Falcons, who are starting to peak at the right time as they battle for a spot in the CIAA Tournament. The win, their fifth in the last seven matches, avenged a three-set loss to the Lady Rams in September. They also took two-time defending CIAA champion Fayetteville State University to five sets before losing in early October.

"I've been telling my team all year that we have to believe in our talent," said Bumpass, whose roster has no seniors and includes six freshmen. "Everyone says we are young, but we have the ability to beat any team we play if we cut down on our errors and focus."

Sydney Holland and Jasmine Smith led the Lady Rams with 21 kills and 18 kills, respectively. Olivia Owens added 11 kills and Kayla Brass had 49 assists and 13 digs. Smith totaled 27 digs.

The Lady Falcons will take the rest of the week off before hosting Southern Division leader Fayetteville State at Emery Gymnasium on Monday, October 27. The match begins at 6 p.m.

"This is a big morale booster that will take us through the rest of the season," Bumpass said about the win over Winston-Salem State. "We have another tough match next Monday against Fayetteville State, and we have to beat Livingstone to make sure we earn a bid in the CIAA Tournament."

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

#6 Dionna Hopkins: RS/L; 5' 8"; Junior

#4 Meghan Mahon: DS; 5' 5"; Sophomore

#12 Olivia Porter: RS; 5' 7"; Sophomore

#1 Juliseea Thomas: S/L; 5' 6"; Junior

#10 Danyelle Noland: OH; 5' 9"; Freshman

#9 Marley Parker: OH/MB; 5' 10"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#6 Dionna Hopkins
: 5' 8"; Junior
: RS/L

#4 Meghan Mahon
: 5' 5"; Sophomore
: DS

#12 Olivia Porter
: 5' 7"; Sophomore
: RS

#1 Juliseea Thomas
: 5' 6"; Junior
: S/L

#10 Danyelle Noland
: 5' 9"; Freshman
: OH

#9 Marley Parker
: 5' 10"; Freshman
: OH/MB

Players Mentioned

Players Mentioned

Sponsors