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Brooke Lynn Watts

Volleyball Preview: NCAA Tournament (First Round)

12/4/2024 11:15:00 AM

What: 2024 NCAA Volleyball Tournament (First & Second Round) 
Where: Lincoln, Neb. | Bob Devaney Sports Center
When: Friday, Dec. 6 – Saturday, Dec. 7
 
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. | After dominating the Southwestern Athletic Conference with a flawless record of 19-0, Florida A&M (27-6) secured the SWAC's automatic bid to the 2024 NCAA Volleyball Tournament. The Rattlers will now prepare for an exciting first-round showdown against the No. 2 overall seed Nebraska (29-2, 19-1 BIG) on Friday, December 6 at 8 p.m. ET.
 
Nebraska First & Second Rounds 
First Round | Friday, Dec. 6
Florida A&M at Nebraska - 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT 
 
Second Round | Saturday, Dec. 7
Winner of FAMU/UN vs. Winner of Miami (21-10, 12-8 ACC) / South Dakota State (27-2, 15-1 Summit) - 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT 
 
First and second round matches will be streamed on ESPN+.                           
 
Quick Hits 
  • FAMU and Nebraska first met back in 2004 when the Rattlers upset the then No. 2-ranked team 3-1 on its home court. This will be their second meeting. 
  • Florida A&M most recently appeared in the 2022 and 2021 NCAA Tournaments. 
  • The Rattlers were crowned the Southwestern Athletic Conference's 2024 regular season and tournament champions; a 3-1 victory over Jackson State (25-23, 25-23, 8-25, 25-15) cemented the team's third tourney title in four years (2024, 2022, 2021). 
  • FAMU (19-0 SWAC) was one of eight teams in the nation to finish the regular season unbeaten in conference play. In recent history, the Rattlers finished 10-0 in the MEAC in 2012, 2013, and 2016.
  • With an overall record of 27-6, the Rattlers secured their third 20-win season under head coach Gokhan Yilmaz; they finished 25-7 in 2021 and 21-13 in 2022. 
  • The Rattlers also finished the regular season unbeaten at home (13-0) – one of 14 teams in the country to do so. 
  • They've recorded 18 straight-set wins this year, including 13 against SWAC opponents.
NCAA Tournament History
The Rattlers are 1-12 overall in the national tournament, with their lone victory occurring in a 3-0 decision against Winthrop in 2003. 

1999 | Long Beach St. def Florida A&M, 15-6, 15-10, 15-1
2002 | Georgia Tech def. Florida A&M, 30-21, 30-27, 30-17
2003 | Florida A&M def. Winthrop, 31-29, 30-16, 30-27
2003 | Georgia Tech def. Florida A&M, 30-25, 34-32, 30-25
2004 | Florida def. Florida A&M, 30-17, 30-25, 30-23
2005 | Kansas St. def. Florida A&M, 27-30, 30-14, 30-27, 30-28
2006 | Florida def. Florida A&M, 30-18, 30-16, 30-26
2007 | Oklahoma def. Florida A&M, 30-25, 32-30- 29-31, 30-14
2008 | Florida def. Florida A&M, 25-20, 25-21, 25-15
2009 | Jacksonville St. def. Florida A&M, 25-22, 18-25, 23-25, 25-20, 15-13
2021 | Florida def. Florida A&M, 25-11, 25-14, 25-8
2022 | Florida def. Florida A&M, 25-15, 25-15, 25-9
 
Career Highlights … So Far
  • Isis Williams has recorded 297 career blocks in four seasons with FAMU and ranks sixth all-time in the category. She is the first Rattler to crack the 'Top 10' since 1999. 
  • Brooke Lynn Watts has amassed 1,069 kills in three seasons at FAMU and currently ranks seventh all-time on the Rattlers' career list. 
  • Brookelynn Thomas has accumulated 1,005 career kills over her five-year career. The middle blocker reached 1K in the semifinal round of the SWAC Tournament – a straight-set victory over Bethune-Cookman. 
  • Gokhan Yilmaz recorded his 100th victory as head coach at Florida A&M in the 3-0 win against Alcorn (Oct. 14). Over his seven-year coaching career, Yilmaz holds an overall record of 129-94, with a 112-77 record at FAMU.
  • Jada Rhodes, the SWAC's 2023 Player of the Year, has totaled 1,133 career kills in four seasons of action between Alabama State (2021-23) and FAMU (2024).
SWAC Recognition 
For the third time in his career, Gokhan Yilmaz was named the SWAC Coach of the Year. Under his leadership this season, FAMU volleyball earned the No. 1 seed in the 2024 SWAC Tournament, with Brooke Lynn Watts and Alexandra Koleva making the All-SWAC First Team, and Iyonnie Sanford and Tinons Galmés earning All-SWAC Second Team honors.
 
Watts was also selected Most Valuable Player of the SWAC Tournament, joining Isis Williams and Makenzie Taylor on the all-tournament team. 
 
SWAC Standings
FAMU ranks "Top 3" in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) in quite a few statistical categories this season, including:  
  • Points Per Set (17.16) / First
  • Points (1,956.5) / First
  • Hitting Percentage (.245) / First
  • Assists Per Set (11.55) / Second
  • Assists (1,317) / Second
  • Kills Per Set (12.64) / Second
  • Kills (1,441) / Second
  • Blocks Per Set (2.43) / Second
  • Total Blocks (276.5) / Second
  • Service Aces Per Set (2.10) / First
  • Service Aces (239) / Second
 
The Rattlers rank fifth in the nation in aces per set (2.11), sixth in opponent hitting percentage (.142), eighth in total aces (234), and 19th in match W-L percentage (.818). 

The Rattlers also individually rank "Top 3" in various season statistics: 
Farah Farooq
  • Hitting Percentage (.327 / Second)
Alexandra Koleva
  • Assists (513 / Third), Assists Per Set (7.13 / First)
Isis Williams
  • Blocks Per Set (1.27 / T-First)
Brooke Lynn Watts
  • Kills Per Set (3.65 / Second), Kills (383 / Third), Points Per Set (4.19 / Second), Points (439.5 / Third)
Tinons Galmés 
  • Digs (429 / Second), Digs Per Set (4.29 / Second)
 
Williams ranks 48th in the country in blocks per set (1.27). 

Follow Florida A&M Athletics 
For complete coverage of Florida A&M athletics, download the official Florida A&M Rattler app and follow the Rattlers on social media at @FAMUAthletics (X), FAMUAth (Facebook), and @famuathletics (Instagram).
 
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