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Sept. 17, 2010
By Dan Ryan DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - If this was March and a basketball tournament, Dick Vitale would be having anuerisms. Bethune-Cookman defeating Providence in hoops would send shockwaves throughout the country. Friday's 3-0 victory by the Lady `Cats volleyball team in the opening match of the inaugural Beach Bash Invitational will hardly cause a ripple, except to reinforce a B-CU team still focused on finding that perfect team cohesion. It's not a victory over the Big East - The Friars are members of the America East for volleyball - but it is a solid win over a name institution. Volleyball now has some room to talk compared to some of the athletic program's signature wins such as the baseball team's 2002 NCAA regional victory and wins over Miami, Ohio State, Iowa and Tennesse or the 2005 softball's season sweep of Florida, the second one leading to an NCAA regional tournament championship. And it wouldn't have matter even if Florida or Ohio State was on the side of the net, the Lady `Cats were concentrating on other things. "Not even knowing the type of program they (Providence) makes it even more important that we went out as team and played our game," said setter Alexis Bliese, who registered 42 assists. "We meshed as a team and played our best on our side of the net . That's where we get our encouragement ." It was one of those days where things come together. B-CU was playing at home, where they are unbeaten. The Lady `Cats found a way to overcome a seven-point deficit in the second set and got a reprieve when officials called for a replay on what would have give Providence a 24th point (B-CU won the final three points to take a 2-0 lead). B-CU somehow found a way to overcome a combined 32 kill, service and receive errors.
"As time goes on, we'll come together even more," said Kaiyana Johnson, who finished with nine kills. "We played our game and that's what's important." B-CU had another match against Savannah State immediatelty afterwards, but head coach Vanessa Cogswell could appreciate the moment. "We're just trying to have this team click," Cogswell said. "So many ups and downs at the tournaments, it's good to come home and get that team chemistry." |
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