B-CU Bounces SSU 3-0 Behind Gardner, Cormier
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Courtesy: BCUathletics.com
Release: 09/30/2012 |
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By Dan Ryan
B-CUAthletics.com
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - With Krysta Gardner's chase for her 1,000th kill finally over, the next landmark stat for Bethune-Cookman to achieve was putting something in the win column. The Lady Cats did that Sunday afternoon a 3-0 (25-21,25-12,25-16) victory over Savannah State Sunday afternoon in Historic Moore Gymnasium.
Gardner had 12 kills and eight digs while Aria Cormier added seven kills and hit .636 as Bethune-Cookman snapped its 19-match losing streak dating back to last season. B-CU (1-18 overall, 1-1 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference South) managed a split of its conference opening weekend matches .
"We played fundamentally sound all the way through the match," said B-CU Head Coach Isaac Raphael. "The girls were having fun."
Gardner's now going after the career kill record of 1,060 held by Melissa Sanders. Cormier's putting her name in the record book via single-match accomplishments.
With no errors in 11 attempts, Cormier's attack percentage was the fifth-best single match total in program history. The junior has had two top ten single-match block total this season as well.
She and freshman Delicia Pierre gave B-CU a solid presence in the middle, combining for five block assists.
"It's nice to be able to get the middle involved," Raphael said. "If the middle is efficient, the outside hitters won't have to swing as much and will be less fatigued. Aria had a very good day.
Cormier was simply glad to get the "W."
"We still had confidence, we just needed a match like this," Cormier said. "I love being 1-1 in conference."
Pierre and Janeen Davis added five kills apiece, while Monica Lowe finished with 22 assists and two services aces. Rhea Simon also had two service aces, and Phylecia Armstrong had three kills and two blocks.
B-CU pulled away from a 10-10 tie in the first set. After a Tiger serve error, Lowe had two aces on a four-point run that put B-CU ahead the rest of the set.
Gardner's five-point service run gave B-CU a 7-1 lead in the second set. The Lady Cats also jumped out to a big lead (8-1) in the third.
Bryana Gadis led Savannah State (0-18,0-2) with eight kills.
B-CU travels to North Carolina A&T Friday.
