Women's Volleyball

Florida A&M Claims SWAC Volleyball Regular Season Title

Box Score 

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.- The Florida A&M volleyball team rose to the challenge Friday (Nov. 15), defending both its home turf and conference streak in a 3-2 win (25-21, 13-25, 24-26, 25-20, 15-8) over Jackson State. 
 
In the decision, the Rattlers also became the Southwestern Athletic Conference's 2024 regular season champions. 

GAME NOTES
  • This is FAMU's first five-set match in SWAC action.  
  • Brooke Lynn Watts recorded her ninth double-double of the season on 13 kills and 13 digs.
  • Iyonnie Sanford has posted double-digit kills in six straight matches; she posted a team-high 18 versus JSU. 
  • Kalia Todd and Isis Williams each added six blocks. 
  • The Rattlers, currently 23-6, have secured their third 20-win season under head coach Gokhan Yilmaz; the team finished 25-7 in 2021 and 21-13 in 2022. 
  • With a conference record of 15-0, FAMU sits atop the SWAC standings as the only undefeated team.
  • FAMU is one of nine teams in the nation currently unbeaten in conference play.
  • The Rattlers are also unbeaten at home this season (12-0).
HOW IT HAPPENED 
SET ONE | The Tigers commanded an early four-point lead but saw things tied at 11-all after a Sanford kill. The contentious frame featured eight more ties, the last at 21, before Sanford went back-to-back. The kills kicked off a 4-0, set-ending run. 
 
SET TWO | Jackson State jumped out to a 3-1 lead and continued to pad its advantage from there. 
 
SET THREE | Back-to-back blocks by Williams and Thomas put FAMU ahead at 4-3 and the team ran away from there, leading by as many as six. 
 
The Rattlers withstood ties at 18 and 23 but lost the set on a 6-1 JSU run. They had an opportunity to put things away at 24-23.  
 
SET FOUR | A 16-16 deadlock was broken by a dominant 5-1 Rattler run. They never looked back.
 
SET FIVE | The Rattlers opened the final set on a 6-0 run. 
 
About the SWAC
The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) is considered one of the premier HBCU conferences in the country and currently ranks among the elite in the nation in terms of HBCU alumni playing with professional sports teams.

Current championship competition offered by the league includes competition for men in Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field, and Tennis. 

Women’s competitions are offered in the sports of Basketball, Bowling, Cross Country, Golf, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field, Soccer, Softball, Tennis, and Volleyball.
 
Follow the SWAC
For complete coverage of the Southwestern Athletic Conference, please follow the SWAC on social media at @TheSWAC on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter or visit the official website of the SWAC at www.swac.org.