Volley Dawgs Advance in Instant Classic

SHREVPORT, La. (November 12, 2024 – All-HBCUAC First Team selection Sydney Willis smashed a game-high 15 kills, and three other Fisk University Lady Bulldog players had double-digit kills in the Bulldogs come-from-behind five-set victory over a valiant six-seeded Stillman College (23-25, 25-18, 22-25, 25-14, 15-13).

"We knew coming in that Stillman would be a tough challenge," said Fisk head coach Jessica Enderle. "We played them at their place, and it was a tough match. This was anyone's match. We had to dig deep to win this one."

For the third-seeded Fisk, Delaney Farver named the WMG "Pick2Click" for the match, followed up Willis with her career-high of 12 kills. Senior Trinity Crawford contributed ten kills and eight digs. 2024 HBCUAC Player of the Year Reagan Jones added ten kills, eight digs, and two service aces. Both Crawford and Jones had four kills in the deciding fifth set. All-HBCUAC First Team selection Trinity Britt notched a double-double with a career-high 53 assists and 11 digs, along with two service aces. All-HBCUAC First Team selection Nialah Gupton led the team with 16 digs.

Ava Cameron, selected as the 2024 HBCUAC Freshman of the Year, led Stillman with 13 kills and five total blocks. Katlyn Lawson followed with 11 kills. Aeraeonna Manuel recorded nine kills and four total blocks. Kelis Conley supplied 44 assists and eight digs, and three total blocks. All-HBCUAC Second Team selection Emily Powell recorded 15 digs.

First Set Stillman 25-23

With Stillman trailing 22-20, Conley got a kill to cut the margin to one. A kill by Lawson and a block by Manuel and Cameron gave the Tigers the lead. Fisk tied it with a service error. Cameron got a block and a set error by Fisk clinched the first set.

Second Set Fisk 25-18

The Bulldogs regrouped and dominated the second set. Two errors by Stillman and kills by All-HBCU Second Teamer La'Niyah Lumpkin and Farver led to a six-point run. The Tigers could not get closer than two. Fisk put down 11 kills and evened the match with a service error by Stillman.

Third Set Stillman 25-22

Trailing 15-13 in the third set, Stillman's Raine Patterson started a rally with a kill. A block by Cameron gave the Tigers the lead. Halie DeLoach got an ace, and Manuel put down a kill to put Stillman ahead 21-17. Lawson put the Tigers within a victory of clinching the match with a kill.

Fourth Set Fisk 25-14

With their season on the line, Fisk controlled the fourth set, opening with a five-point run. Britt recorded two aces, and Farver and Jones scored kills. A kill by Crawford increased the Bulldogs' lead to double-digits. A kill by Willis forced the decisive fifth set.

Fifth Set Fisk 15-13

Fisk took the early lead in the fifth set with kills by Crawford and Lumpkin. Lawson tied the set at six with two kills. Jones recorded three kills to give the Bulldogs a 10-6 lead. Powell's ace and kills by Cameron and Lawson tied the set at 11. Jones again gave Fisk the lead with a kill and a service ace. A kill by Cameron and an ace by DeLoach tied it at 13. Kills by Farver and Willis clinched the match for Fisk.

The victory gave Fisk a trip to the conference semi-finals for the third consecutive season. The Lady Bulldogs will take on Dillard University at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday. The winner will advance to the championship game.