Whether it was the long delay to start the match due to the opponents travel difficulties or something else, the Kentucky State University volleyball team got off a slow start before dispatching rival Central State University Friday, 19-25, 25-10, 25-14, 25-16, in Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference action at the William Exum Center.
It marked the regular season finale for both teams, and both teams have qualified for the SIAC tournament. Kentucky State, which will be the second seed from the West Division, wraps up the regular season with an overall record of 21-12 and a conference mark of 16-2.
Central State took control of the first set with a 12-3 spurt to take the 20-11 lead, and while the Thorobreds pulled a tad closer – the Marauders secured the opening set.
Any question about how the Green and Gold would respond was quickly answered as Kentucky State opened up with the sets first eight points. The CSU points were few and far between in the set and the 'Breds knotted up the match.
Kentucky State opened up a 10-point lead in the third set and put itself on the verge of the victory. While the Marauders showed some early fight in the fourth set, it was only a matter of time before a K-State run claim the rest of CSU's fighting spirit.
Junior Robin Poole (Katy, Texas) recorded double-figure kills for the first time in eight matches, and the 10th time this season, with a team-high 11 kills on 33 attempts. She added six digs, four block assists and three service aces.
Freshman Miana Wallace (Lees Summitt, Mo.) was a dominant force at the net defensively with a career-high seven blocks. She added seven kills on 13 attempts. Sophomore Mariah Peachey (Liverpool, Ohio) added seven kills on 16 attempts, and four blocks, for the Thorobreds.
Junior Sasha Bills (Mesa, Ariz.) continued to effectively facilitate the offense with 22 assists, while sophomore Alliyah Williams (Sugar Land, Texas) led the team with 11 digs.
Kentucky State kicks off Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference tournament action 10 a.m. November 18 against the third seed in the East Division at the Upward Star Center in Spartanburg, S.C.