DURHAM, N.C. (Sept. 30) – The FAMU Women's Volleyball team opened their 2018 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference schedule with a weekend sweep of the Carolina Twins, North Carolina A&T (Friday) and North Carolina Central (Sunday) by identical 3-1 scores.
FAMU (3-13, 2-0 MEAC) came into Sunday's match with NCCU (3-10, 1-1 MEAC), sharing first place in the Southern Division with the Eagles and South Carolina State at 1-0.
The Rattler Women wasted little time against the Eagles, winning the first two sets, 25-15, 25-17, before dropping a hotly-contested third set, 25-21. FAMU closed out their hosts, 25-19 in the fourth set.
Junior twins Radka and Elena Dimitrova had an outstanding match, as Radka, the outside hitter, knocked down a match high 24 kills, while recording 15 digs, with sister Elena dishing out 48 assists to go with her 12 digs.
Junior Maria Yvett Garcia added 15 kills, while senior Valentina Carrasco led with 19 digs Sunday.
@ On Friday, FAMU defeated North Carolina A&T (5-9, 0-1) in Greensboro, N.C., winning the first two sets by identical 25-18 scores. They dropped the third set, 26-24, but bounced back to close out the Aggies in the fourth frame, 25-17.
Maria Garcia (11) and sophomore Aybuke Kocabiyik (10) led FAMU in kills Friday. Ilayda Nurkan (22) set the pace in assists, while Valentina Carrasco topped the club in digs with 16.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS/CAROLINA SWING: A look at the numbers for the Carolinas Swing showed the quartet of Radka Dimitrova (31), Garcia (26), Kocabiyik (16) and Karina Pressoir (14) led the way in kills for FAMU….
In the digs category, Carrasco (38), Radka Dimitrova (23), Jessa Long (17), Elena Dimitrova (12) and Garcia (11) were the top performers… Kocabiyik (12) lead FAMU in blocks, while Elena Dimitrova (52) and Nurkan (22) set the pace in assists.
THE SEASON SO FAR: FAMU has won three straight matches, after dropping their first 13 bouts to start the season…. The defense of their 2017 MEAC Southern Division title got off to a winning start this weekend with the Carolinas Sweep…
Leading the way in kills so far are Garcia (214), Radka Dimitrova (138), Kocabiyik (124) and Pressoir (88)…. In sets, Elena Dimitrova (249) and Ilayda Nurkan (247) are neck-and-neck in assists…
Kocabiyik (62), Pressoir (47), Radka Dimitrova (35) and Garcia (25) top the block party for FAMU…. In digs, Carrasco (275), Jessa Long (168), Elena Dimitrova (126) and Garcia (115) are the club leaders.
WHAT'S NEXT: FAMU will host Bethune-Cookman this Friday at 6:00 p.m. in the gymnasium of FAMU DRS at the corner of Wahnish Way and Orange Avenue.
