Sept. 7, 2007

Final Stats

Ft. Meyers, Fla. - Anielle Dasilva had 17 kills while Shari Matthews collected 16 kills of her own to lead North Carolina Central University past Bethune-Cookman University, 3-1 in the first round of the Florida Gulf Coast Tournament at Alico Arena in Ft. Meyers, Fla.

B-CU (0-1) dropped the season-opener with a fight against the newly-defined Division I opponents from Durham, N.C. in the first-ever meeting between the two schools.

NCCU (6-4) took the opening game with a score of 30-21 as they went on a 7-0 run to push the lead out to 15-6 midway through the contest. During the run, B-CU committed three errors (one set) to allow the Eagles to push the lead out to an insurmountable advantage. B-CU did fight back into the game to cut the lead at 19-15 as they went on a 5-0 run, but it was too late to collect the victory, however.

B-CU took the second game with a score of 30-24 behind the efforts of freshman Kaiyana Johnson who helped the Wildcats with four kills in the game. Johnson, a highly-touted middle blocker from West Hills, Calif. Looks to be a true mark for what head coach Vanessa Cogswell calls "a great middle row" for the Wildcats in 2007.

The final two games of the match provided just too much power from NCCU's All-America talents of Shari Matthews and Naima Stennett as they flew past the Wildcats on scores of 30-17 and 30-25 in a greatly contested match overall.

Bethune-Cookman was led by Johnson with 13 kills in her collegiate debut--one that looks to be a spark for the future of the program. Johnson also posted a team-high tying three service aces and match-high tying four blocks (three assists). Danielle Goodrum was right behind Johnson with 10 kills of her own, as well as three service aces and eight digs, defensively.

B-CU sophomore setter Kumiko Chow continues to eye the Wildcats record books as she collected 18 assists alongside freshman Julie Gibson (13) who performed well in her first-ever college match. Freshman Shakhea Moore-Hagins finished with a team-high 11 digs on defense.

As for North Carolina Central, it was three (3) student-athletes in double-figures with Dasilva leading the way with a match-high 17 kills and 13 digs for the Eagles. Shari Matthews finished up with 16 kills and three service aces, while teammate Stennett tallied 10 kills of her own. Stennett also had a match-high tying four blocks (three assists).

Bethune-Cookman will look to get back on track tomorrow when they take on North Carolina Central and tournament host Florida Gulf Coast tomorrow beginning at 11 a.m. back at Alico Arena in Ft. Meyers, Fla. For more official tournament information, please visit the Florida Gulf Coast athletic website at www.FGCUathletics.com.