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The title defense for Fort Valley State could hardly have started off any better.
The defending SIAC champions Fort Valley State had both a season-high .542 attack percentage and 16 aces as it swept Benedict 25-15, 25-15, 25-11 in its conference opener Sunday.
The Wildcats (5-8, 1-0 SIAC) opened the home match hitting a match-best .750 and committing one attack error in the first game. In addition, Fort Valley State did not commit more than three errors in any of the three games and finished with six attack errors – its second lowest amount in a match this season.
“It felt great to start the conference off with a sweep. We started a bit slow in the match but picked up steam quick,” Fort Valley State coach Larry Wrather said to Off the Block. “We are still early in conference play, but I’m pleased with how the whole team stepped up to being the standard. Definitely still have some things to iron out, but we’ll get there by April.”
Outside attacker Isaiah Fedd led all players with eight kills on a .636 attack percentage. The Division II All-American also had a match-high six aces, including four aces in the opening game.
Fedd was one of four Wildcats to have multiple aces against Benedict (3-3, 0-1 SIAC).
Outside attacker Oshane Farquhason added three aces highlighted with back-to-back aces in the second game. Both Rashaun Wright coming off the bench and middle attacker Raheem Thomas had two aces.
Thomas also contributed six kills on a team-best .714 attack percentage to help the Wildcats earn their third win in the last four matches.
Benedict in the loss hit in the negative in each of the final two games and finished the match with a zero attack percentage. No Benedict player hit more than .175 or had more than three kills.
Fort Valley State with this victory extends its conference winning streak to 13 matches. The Wildcats went undefeated in the SIAC last season en route to earning the conference inaugural berth to the NCAA Tournament.