Photo Caption: Setter Alexandra Koleva celebrates after FAMU wins point.
The Florida A&M volleyball team is now 5-2 following a midweek win against North Florida and a sweep at their FAMU Tournament. After a preseason loss to West Florida on Aug. 23 and a 1-2 finish in the Georgia State tournament the previous weekend, FAMU turned things around.
The Rattlers swept Southern and New Orleans on Friday and defeated Jacksonville in four sets, winning two of those sets by at least nine points. In their final game of the tournament, FAMU again defeated Jacksonville in four sets.
The Rattlers began the week dramatically, falling behind two sets to one after winning the first set against North Florida on Wednesday. FAMU forced a fifth set after winning the fourth set 25-17 and clinched the match with three straight kills and an attack error from UNF, breaking an 11-point tie.
FAMU head coach Gokhan Yilmaz believes the resilience shown in the North Florida match contributed to their success over the weekend.
“I think that can be one of the defining matches for the season,” Yilmaz said. “We were able to come back and play together in set four. We were down two to one, evened out the match, and were able to play five. Hopefully, that will continue to contribute to our performance.”
Yilmaz also praised his players for their performance against strong opponents, noting their consistency in solving problems during matches.
“We played really good opponents,” Yilmaz said. “Our team did a good job staying consistent and finding ways to solve problems during the matches.”
Senior Brooke Lynn Watts and graduate transfer Brookelynn Thomas have both had significant impacts on the offense this season. They recorded 37 of the Rattlers’ 61 kills in the match against North Florida and both tallied 33 kills each during the FAMU Tournament.
Watts, a preseason all-SWAC selection, has 84 kills this season, while Thomas, with over 500 career kills from Winthrop, leads the team with 85 and has also recorded 19 blocks. Yilmaz noted improvement in the team’s defensive play throughout the matches.
“Our defensive intensity got a little bit better,” Yilmaz said. “That’s something we will continue to work on during the season.”
Graduate student Isis Williams leads the team with 23 blocks.
The Rattlers led all four opponents they faced this week in aces and digs. Senior setter Alexandra Koleva, senior libero Bryshanna Brown, and Watts each recorded double-digit digs in the win over North Florida. Brown leads the team with 78 digs, and four Rattlers have at least 50 digs this season.
FAMU is first in the SWAC and the only team in the conference with a winning record. They will travel to Louisiana this upcoming weekend for the McNeese Tournament. Yilmaz says his team will focus on transitioning and using multiple options to prepare.
The Rattlers won’t return to Al Lawson until Friday, Oct. 4, to start a five-game home stretch against conference opponents. Yilmaz added that the home atmosphere and fan support were crucial to their success.
“We love playing here,” Yilmaz said. “And today, the band being here made a huge difference.”
FAMU will face McNeese State on Friday, Sept. 13, at 7:30 p.m.