Strong Defense Keys Lady Bulldog Win in Semis
Fisk Volleyball earns a berth to the GCAC Championship game for the first time in school history.
BOSSIER, La.-- History was made on Monday evening when the Fisk Lady Bulldogs (21-13) defeated the Dillard Lady Bleu Devils in four sets (25-22, 25-16, 9-25, 25-21) in one of the semifinal matches in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference tournament. The victory allows Fisk to play in a GCAC championship game for the first time in all team sports. A strong defense from the backend scooping up 89 digs was a key to the win. GCAC Defender of the Year Jadyn Brackins led four Lady Bulldogs in digs with 28. GCAC Freshman of the Year Nebthet Re had 15, Lori Rocha had 12, and Nialah Gupton added 11. Trinity Britt just missed reaching double digits with nine.
"Our serve-receiving was clicking in this game," said Fisk head coach Jessica Enderle. "Playing in the second two matches in one day is always tough. We rotated players in and out to try to stay fresh. We are happy to make history. It will be tough to beat the first seed, but we will give it a shot."
Re showed her versatility by notching a double-double with 38 assists, giving her 76 assists in her last seven sets. Her play helped to set up a balanced attack led by GCAC Newcomer of the Year Iyanla Thigpen's 13 kills at a .333 hitting percentage. Berlynn Muldrow added nine kills, Gabrielle Huntley had eight, and Kailynn Johnson contributed seven.
The Lady Bulldogs will take on Talladega University in the GCAC Championship game on Tuesday. The first serve is at noon (CST).