Lady Wildcats Were Resilient In 2022 Home Opener

MOBILE, ALABAMA – The Lady Wildcats started the 2022-23 volleyball season off with a bang. Opening day was a success as Head Coach Nicole Keshock led her talented group to a 3-1 victory over Gadsden State on Sunday afternoon at the Fredericka G. Evans Culture Centre. This is the second year in a row that the Lady Wildcats have won their home opener as both matches were against Gadsden State.

With over 200 spectators in attendance, the Lady Wildcats got off to a solid start as they went up 4-1 in the first set. Ma'Kayla Jones started the set with a big time kill that got the crowd going. Breunna Crawford followed with a really good service ace. Gadsden State battled back as the two squads went back and forth before Gadsden State took the lead 7-10. The Lady Wildcats responded and eventually took the lead which resulted in Gadsden State calling a timeout as Bishop State led 18-14. After the timeout, Bishop State pushed the lead to seven, which was the largest lead of the set. Gadsden State would pull within four, 23-19, but it wasn't enough as the Lady Wildcats went on to win the first set 25-19.

The second match was a little different as the tables were turned a bit. Gadsden State jumped out to a 4-1 lead on the Lady Wildcats. Bishop State would claw back and tie the set at 7. Both squads went back and forth before Bishop State took a 17-14 margin which led to a Gadsden State timeout. The Lady Wildcats came out the timeout hitting on all cylinders and pushed the lead to 5, 19-14. It wasn't over yet, Gadsden State responded with a flurry of their own and cut the lead to one before Coach Keshock called a timeout with a 19-18 lead. Gadsden State would tie the set at 19 and 20 but it would be the closest they would get as Zoe Van Rijn came up with a huge dig that led to a set winning kill by freshman Megan Flippin to win the second set 25-22.

In what would've been the final set for the Lady Wildcats, Gadsden State had other plans. Gadsden State jumped out to a 7-2 lead forcing Coach Keshock to call a timeout for Bishop State. The Lady Wildcats closed the gap and tied the set at 11, forcing Gadsden State to call a timeout. There would be several lead changes and ties before Gadsden closed out the third set 25-21.

The fourth set of the day was a doozy. Brooke Smith started the set with back-to-back aces, her third serve led to another score, then she followed with another ace to push the lead to 4-0 for the Lady Wildcats forcing Gadsden State to call a timeout. Gadsden State would tie the set and both teams traded scores which led to the grand finale. Tied at 24, Bishop State took the lead with a kill by Zoe Van Rijn assisted by Jalei Jomalon to take the lead 25-24. Jalei Jomalon would then get a diving dig to avoid a tie which eventually led to a stand at the service line from Breunna Crawford and freshman Whitley Grant to defeat Gadsden State 26-24 in the final set of the day.

Two Lady Wildcats recorded double-doubles as Jalei Jomalon went for 39 assists and 17 digs while Zoe Van Rijn finished with 11 kills and 11 digs. Almost three Lady Wildcats had double-digit kills as Breunna Crawford led the way with 12, Zoe Van Rijn with 11 and Ma'Kayla Jones with 9. Three Lady Wildcats finished with double-digit digs with freshman Tryneti Chatman leading the way with 19, Jalei Jomalon with 17, Zoe Van Rijn with 11 and freshman Kendall Thomas with 9.

The Lady Wilcats will have a chance at a taste of vengeance as they travel to take on Snead State who defeated Bishop State in the ACCC semifinals last season 3-2. That match will be on August 31^st at 4:00 pm.