DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.  – Freshmen middle blockers Oneillia Fuller and Tyran Chenault combined for 18 points as Savannah State University women's volleyball team (3-21, 1-6 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) fell to the MEAC Southern Division leader Bethune-Cookman University (9-11, 6-0 MEAC) 3-0 (19-25, 19-25, 18-25) Friday in Moore Gymnasium.
 
Chenault recorded a match-high seven blocks, which is tied for second most in school history with two solo blocks and five block assists, which is tied for second most in school history.  Chenault added five kills, while Fuller led the team with eight kills and with a .312 hitting percentage.  Senior setter Alee Quint led the team with 16 assists, while freshman libero Leiri Melendez recorded a match-high 16 digs and added two service aces.
 
Freshman setter Salma Gonzalez nearly missed a double-double with 12 assists and nine digs and added six kills, while freshman outside hitter Amanda Rullan Vilanova added five kills and a .308 hitting percentage and freshman outside hitter Brooke Sanford recorded 12 digs and three kills.
 
Savannah State scored nine of the first 16 points in the first set to take a two-point lead, 9-7, but B-CU scored 13 of the next 19 points to take a five-point lead, 20-15.  The Lady Tigers scored the next three points to cut the lead to two points, 20-18, but Bethune-Cookman scored five of the final six points for the six point set win and to take a 1-0 match lead.
 
Bethune-Cookman scored the first eight points of the second stanza to take an 8-0 lead, but the Lady Tigers scored 10 of the next 16 points to close within four points, 14-10.  The Wildcats scored nine of the next 11 points to increase its lead to 11 points, 23-12, but Savannah State scored the next six points to close within five points, 23-18.  B-CU scored two of the final three points for the six point set win and to take a 2-0 match lead.
 
Savannah State scored four of the first six points in the final frame to take a two-point lead, 4-2, but the Wildcats scored 11 of the next 16 points to take a four-point lead, 13-9.  The Lady Tigers scored the next three points to close within a point, 13-12, but B-CU outscored SSU 12-6 during the rest of the set for the seven point set win and to win the match.
 
The Wildcats were led by Jordan Jefferson, Rakaya Neely and Miranda White with nine kills and Phalen Clark with 35 assists and with 14 digs for a double-double. 
 
The Lady Tigers stay in Florida with a match Sunday against Florida A&M University Sunday at 1 p.m. in Tallahassee. 
 
  Short Box Score (Match)
  2017 Savannah State Volleyball
  Savannah State vs Bethune-Cookman (Oct 27, 2017 at Daytona Beach, Fla.)
 
  Bethune-Cookman def. Savannah State 25-19,25-19,25-18
 
  Savannah State (3-21, 1-6 MEAC) (Kills-aces-blocks) - FULLER,Oneillia
  8-0-1; GONZALEZ,Salma 6-0-0; CHENAULT,Tyran 5-0-7; RULLAN
  VILANOVA,Aman 5-0-2; SANFORD,Brooke 3-0-1; ROSADO,Jennifer 3-0-4;
  MELENDEZ,Leiri 0-2-0; QUINT,Alee 0-1-0; Totals 30-3-9.0. (Assists) -
  QUINT,Alee 16; GONZALEZ,Salma 12. (Dig leaders) - MELENDEZ,Leiri 16;
  SANFORD,Brooke 12; GONZALEZ,Salma 9
 
  Bethune-Cookman (9-11, 6-0 MEAC) (Kills-aces-blocks) - NEELY,Rakaya
  9-0-2; JEFFERSON,Jordan 9-0-1; WHITE,Miranda 9-0-2; BAUTISTA,Alondra
  7-1-0; LANDRENEAUX,Faith 4-0-4; EMILE,Jessica 1-0-0; HILL,Meraiah
  1-0-1; CHAPMAN,Jai 1-0-1; CLARK,Phalen 1-2-2; HANDY,Alana 0-1-0;
  Totals 42-4-8.0. (Assists) - CLARK,Phalen 35. (Dig leaders) -
  CLARK,Phalen 14; HANDY,Alana 12; JEFFERSON,Jordan 10
 
  Site: Daytona Beach, Fla. (Moore Gymnasium)
  Date: Oct 27, 2017   Attend: 119   Time: 1:27   
  Referees: Alex Molina, Robert Owen
  Line judges: Sandra Gardner, Ed Dufreene
 
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