TALLAHASSEE, Fla. | Care to watch the Florida A&M volleyball team live, in action, inside the Al Lawson Center? Just three opportunities remain in the 2021 season, and two are scheduled for this weekend, as the Rattlers play host to Mississippi Valley State (Oct. 23) and Jackson State (Oct. 25).
About the Rattlers
- Alabama State ended the Rattlers' streak of 17-straight set wins in a 25-17 decision (Oct. 17); the match resulted in a 3-2 loss for FAMU, which also concluded its five-game winning steak.
- FAMU responded to the ASU match by notching a 3-0 victory over Alabama A&M (Oct. 18); the success marked its 11th sweep of the season and sixth Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) win.
- They currently tie for third in league standings behind Jackson State (8-0) and Arkansas-Pine Bluff (7-1); FAMU is the only team in the SWAC with an overall record above .500 as well as the only team with double-digit wins (14).
- The team now commands a 20-9 record at home over the last three seasons, starred by an unblemished 7-0 mark in 2017.
- Gokhan Yilmaz secured his 50th as a head coach in the 3-0 decision over Alcorn State (Oct. 10); he compiled 17 in a single season at Charlotte and has 35 at the helm of FAMU.
- A 3-2 triumph over Auburn (Sept. 17) marked their first win against a Power 5 institution since 2006.
- Jasmine Robinson has been a spark for the Rattlers as of late. The freshman recorded 10 kills and seven digs versus Alabama State (Oct. 17) and followed the act with 12 kills and a service ace against Alabama A&M (Oct. 18).
- Florida A&M holds the No. 1 spot in the SWAC in several statistical categories, including assists per set (12.27), hitting percentage (.259), match win-loss percentage (.700), and kills per set (13.68).
- Dominique Washington is in the midst of a breakout season. She currently ranks seventh in the country in total kills (334) and fourth in points per set (5.54). The graduate outsider hitter is also the only athlete in the SWAC with more than 250 kills.
- Defensively, Jessa Long sits atop the SWAC with 5.31 digs per set and 308 total digs, ranking 12th and 87th in the country, respectively.
- Irem Ucar is always available to lend a helping hand and leads the SWAC (ranking 35th in the nation) assists per set (10.47)
Scouting the Competition
- All eight of the Tigers' wins this season have occurred in SWAC play; FAMU will look to avenge its 3-0 loss to JSU earlier this season (Sept. 24)
- The Rattlers swept MVSU (Sept. 25) in what became the start of a five-game winning spell; the Delta Devils are searching for their first SWAC win
