The Florida A&M volleyball team continued to dominate in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) on Sunday with a 3-0 sweep over Southern.
The win brings their overall record to 14-5 while they remain unbeaten in conference play(6-0). The win also kept FAMU undefeated at home this season, with an 8-0 record at Al Lawson.
The Rattlers have made their mark and have established themselves as the team to beat this season.
At the start of the match, FAMU took control early, despite Southern briefly holding a 3-1 lead in the first set. The Rattlers responded with seven unanswered points, swiftly putting the game back in their favor. The Rattlers closed out the set with a 25-12 victory, setting the tone for the remainder of the match.
FAMU maintained its lead in the second set, starting with back-to-back blocks from Kalia Todd and Brookelynn Thomas. The Rattlers never lost their lead and won the set, 25-13. The final set followed at a similar pace, with Watts recording the opening kill that sparked a 10-3 run. FAMU remained in control throughout the set, winning 25-14 and securing the sweep.
The Rattlers’ match against Southern was highlighted by a standout performance from Brooke Lynn Watts, who led the team with a match-high 12 kills.
Tinons Galmés led the defense with a team-high 11 digs, helping to stop Southern’s offensive attack throughout the match. In addition, Alexandra Koleva and London Hatch contributed to FAMU’s offense with 12 and 10 assists, respectively. Their performance kept the pressure on the Jaguars.
The team’s success this season is under the leadership of head Coach Gokhan Yilmaz, who is on the verge of a career milestone.
Sunday’s victory brought him just one win shy of his 100th victory as head coach of the Rattlers.
In his seven-year tenure at Florida A&M, Yilmaz has compiled a record of 99-76, with an overall coaching record of 116-93. His leadership and ability to establish a winning culture have been key factors in the FAMU volleyball team being a powerhouse within the SWAC.
Florida A&M will return Monday evening to host Alcorn State in the Al Lawson Center. With their current winning streak at home and the potential milestone for Coach Yilmaz, the Rattlers are looking to remain undefeated and stay atop the SWAC standings. Match time is set for 6 p.m.