FAMU Volleyball Set to Meet Florida State Wednesday

8/29/2022 1:05:00 PM

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. | Florida's state capital lays claim to two Division I universities that will meet this Wednesday (August 31), as the Florida A&M volleyball program (0-3) makes a quick trek to Florida State (2-1).

Match time is scheduled for 6 p.m. inside Tully Gym; it will also be streamed live on ACC Network Extra.

The Last Time Out
The Rattlers opened their 2021 season with losses to North Carolina State, Sam Houston, and Kansas State in the two-day K-State Invitational (August 26-27). The 3-1 decision to SHU captured the closest set scores (22-25, 25-20, 21-25, 25-27) as well as the best offensive production: 52 kills, a .142 hitting percentage, and 65 points. Individual performances also saw Dominique Washington finish with 22 kills and Nina Sharpton 41 assists – both sit atop the Southwestern Athletic Conference as 2022 game highs.

Newcomers
All five Rattler newcomers received considerable playing time in the K-State Invitational, including starters Brooke Lynn Watts, Nina Sharpton, and Aja Jones.

Jones commands the team's best hitting percentage (.231) and is currently second on the roster in points, while Sharpton paces FAMU and the SWAC in assists (76). With offensive and defensive prowess, Hudson manages a team-best 52 digs (the most in the conference) to go alongside a Rattler-high four service aces.

#1 Jada Taylor | L | 5-5 | Jr. | Chicago, Ill. / Grambling State
# 2 Brooke Lynn Watts | OH | 5-9 | So. | Odenton, Md. / Murray State
#8 Nina Sharpton | S | 5-10 | R-Sr. | Palm Beach, Fla. / N.C. State
#9 Brooke Hudson | DS | 5-3 | Sr. | Houston, Texas / Colorado State
#11 Aja Jones | MB | 6-1 | Sr. | Venice, Fla. / Florida Gulf Coast University

Recapping A Historic Season

FAMU claimed its first Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship title – in its inaugural season as a league member – in a 3-2 upset over the defending champions, Jackson State
With a record of 25-7, 14-2 in the SWAC, the Rattlers wrapped the season with their first 20-win campaign since 2006
The team worked a 12-game winning streak before meeting Florida in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament; the year also captured 18 sweeps
Dominique Washington was named the SWAC Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year, while Irem Ucar garnered Setter of the Year and Jessa Long, Libero of the Year
Jasmine Robinson was selected All-SWAC Second Team
Gokhan Yilmaz secured his 50th career win as a head coach in a 3-0 decision over Alcorn State (Oct. 10); he compiled 17 in a single season at Charlotte (2014-15) and currently manages 46 at the helm of FAMU

Amongst the Best
The Rattlers sat amongst the best in the country in several individual and team categories during the 2021 season:

Irem Ucar
Assists Per Set | 10.58 | 35th in the nation / 1st in the SWAC
Total Assists | 1,186 | 27th in the nation / 1st in the SWAC
Service Aces | Irem Ucar | 42 | 45th in the nation / 3rd in the SWAC

Dominique Washington
Attacks Per Set | 11.73 | 21st in the nation / 1st in the SWAC
Kills Per Set | 4.99 | 5th in the nation / 1st in the SWAC
Points | 626 | 5th in the nation / 1st in the SWAC
Points Per Set | 5.54 | 7th in the nation / 1st in the SWAC
Service Aces | 41 | 59th in the nation / 6th in the SWAC
Total Attacks | 1,325 | 18th in the nation / 1st in the SWAC
Total Kills | 564 | 3rd in the nation / 1st in the SWAC

Team
Aces Per Set | 1.93 | 11th in the nation / 2nd in the SWAC
Hitting Percentage | .254 | 34th in the nation / 1st in the SWAC
Match W-L Percentage | .781 | 26th in the nation / 1st in the SWAC
Team Service Aces | 218 | 10th in the nation / 2nd in the SWAC

Print Friendly Version