Dover, Del. (Oct. 27, 2019) ---Anadys Valentin led a balanced Delaware State attack with 13 kills in the Hornets' 3-0 MEAC volleyball win over Florida A&M in Memorial Hall today. The scores were 31-29, 25-17 and 25-21.
DSU, improving to 10-15 overall and 5-5 in the MEAC, has posted back-to-back shutouts for the first time since consecutive 3-0 victories over Morgan State (Nov. 5) and Coppin State (Nov. 7) in 2010.
Jordan Vang posted 12 kills and a team-high 11 digs, while Sydney Armbrister contributed 10 digs on 18 attacks (.444 hitting pct.).
DSU Setter Freja Gortz had a career-high 46 assists and seven digs in the contest, giving her 82 helpers and 20 digs in the last two contests. The 46 assists are the most in recorded team history for a three-set match.
In the marathon first set, Florida A&M used a 5-0 run to open up an 18-11 lead. The Rattlers were ahead 23-20 when the Hornets made a late move. DSU scored the next three points, and pulled even on a Florida A&M error.
The Rattlers survived three elimination points before taking a 29-28 led. The Hornets were one point from dropping the set before scoring the last three points, two on FAMU errors, for the win.
Valentin had nine kills on 20 attempts in the opening set.
Delaware State never trailed in set two. The Hornets scored the first three points and led by eight on two occasions. DSU had 16 kills (.353) to just six for the Rattlers (.120) in the second set.
The score was 9-9 in the third set before DSU took control. The Hornets scored 14 of the next 21 points, and opened up their biggest lead, 23-16, on a kill by Mayan Ngundam off a feed from Gortz. The Rattlers had a late charge to pull to within 23-21, but Ngundam and Sydney Lewis recorded kills on the next two points to seal the set and match win for the Hornets.
Delaware State had 50 kills, their most in a three set match this season, and 25 errors on 124 attacks for a .202 hitting percentage in the contest.
Florida A&M had a .121 attack percentage in the match, tallying 30 kills and 18 errors on 121 attempts.
Armbrister has a team-high .324 attack percentage this season. She was second in the MEAC with a .315 mark entering play this season.
The Hornets are also home for their next match on Friday (Nov. 1) against Maryland-Eastern Shore. The contest is set for 6:00 p.m. in Memorial Hall.
