ITTA BENA, Miss. -- The Arkansas-Monticello women's voleyball team swept Mississippi Valley State, 3-0, Monday night in the final home game for the Devilettes this season. It also was the first of four games this week for the Devilettes, who travel to conference foes Jackson State (Wednesday), Alabama A&M (Friday) and Alabama State (Saturday) to conclude the regular season.
Prior to Monday's game, MVSU honored its senior class with a plaque for their time as a Devilette. Family, friends, and fans cheered the four seniors on as they played their last home game in a Valley uniforum.
UAM defeated the Devilettes: 29-27, 25-19, 25-20.
Valley held a 24-20 lead in the first set before the Blossoms stormed back to tie the game at 24. The set went back and forth untiil an attack error by Valley provided UAM with all it needed to come away with the victory in the first set.
UAM stayed hot in the second set, running out to a 10-1 lead over MVSU. But, Valley cut the lead to two points, 18-16, thanks to Halle Gayten, Kayondra Hood and others. The set, however, ended with the Blossoms going on a 7-3 run to win its second straight set.
Then, in the final set, Valley held a 13-10 lead before UAM came storming back again. The Blossoms went on a 11-1 run to take a 21-14 lead. MVSU responded by scoring four consecutive points, including a kill by Royce Higgins and a service ace from Alexis Williams. However, three errors from the Devilettes and a kill by Sydni Schulz sent the Blossoms home with a 3-0 win.
Gayten paced the Devilettes with seven kills while Brianna Watkins chipped in six and a season-high 11 digs. Meanwhile, Cythina Richardson lead the team with four blocks.
