WILBERFORCE, Ohio — The Central State Marauders men's volleyball opened SIAC play in dominant fashion Tuesday evening, sweeping rival Kentucky State Thorobreds men's volleyball 3-0 (25-19, 25-13, 25-20) inside Beacom/Lewis Gym.
With the win, Central State improves to 5-9 overall and 1-0 in SIAC competition, while Kentucky State drops to 5-13 overall and 0-1 in league play.
FAST START SETS THE TONE
The Marauders established control early, hitting an efficient .345 in the opening set behind 14 kills on 29 attempts. Toulmin Williams IV and Jaedyn Harris helped pace the offense as Central State pulled away for a 25-19 victory.
Central State elevated its level even further in the second set, posting a blistering .409 hitting percentage with 10 kills and just one error. The Marauders' defense held Kentucky State to a .095 mark in the frame, cruising to a decisive 25-13 win and a commanding 2-0 match lead.
BALANCED ATTACK CLOSES THE DOOR
Despite a stronger push from Kentucky State in the third set, Central State remained in control. The Marauders totaled 17 kills in the final frame and finished the match with 41 kills on .354 hitting, compared to just 20 kills and a .072 clip for the Thorobreds.
Central State sealed the sweep with a 25-20 victory to complete the straight-set triumph in front of 71 fans in Wilberforce.
LEADERS FOR THE MARAUDERS
Toulmin Williams IV and Jaedyn Harris led the offensive charge with 11 kills each. Harris also added three service aces and three blocks in a strong all-around performance. Amir Taylorcontributed six kills.
Christopher Demetriou directed the offense efficiently, dishing out 32 assists while guiding the Marauders to their most productive hitting performance of the season.
At the net, Simon Falayi anchored the defense with five blocks, while Williams IV and Harris added three blocks apiece. Williams IV also led the team with eight digs, showcasing his versatility.
KENTUCKY STATE LEADERS
Jamir Patterson led Kentucky State with six kills, followed by Ryker Noteboom with five. Jackson Moffitt recorded 15 assists and three blocks, while Jamal Gray tallied a match-high nine digs for the Thorobreds.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Kills: Central State 41, Kentucky State 20
- Hitting Percentage: Central State .354, Kentucky State .072
- Assists: Central State 36, Kentucky State 17
- Digs: Central State 29, Kentucky State 26
- Blocks: Central State 8, Kentucky State 5
- Aces: Central State 5, Kentucky State 3
The Marauders will look to build on the momentum as SIAC play continues, while Kentucky State aims to regroup in its next conference outing.
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ABOUT THE SOUTHERN INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETIC CONFERENCE (SIAC)
The SIAC is a NCAA athletic conference consisting primarily of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) with headquarters in downtown Atlanta, Georgia. The SIAC includes 15 member institutions (Albany State University, Allen University, Benedict College, Central State University, Clark Atlanta University, Edward Waters University, Fort Valley State University, Kentucky State University, Lane College, LeMoyne-Owen College, Miles College, Morehouse College, Savannah State University, Spring Hill College, and Tuskegee University), which are located within a contiguous seven-state footprint (Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, South Carolina, Tennessee and Ohio). The SIAC sponsors nine men's and seven women's sports and is a proud member of the NCAA Division II. For more information, visit www.thesiac.com.