TALLAHASSEE, Fla. | When you're undefeated, every game feels like a battle. Every opponent brings their best. 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. 
 
NEXT UP
The Rattlers are back in the Al Lawson Center this Sunday at 1 p.m. The program will recognize its graduating seniors – Bryshanna Brown, Autumn Hamilton, London Hatch, Alexandra Koleva, Jada Rhodes, Brookelynn Thomas, Kalia Todd, Brooke Lynn Watts and Isis Williams – before taking on Mississippi Valley State. 
 
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