Daytona Beach, Fla. -- Freshman Shelby Connors recorded a season-high 16 kills as visiting Stetson defeated Bethune-Cookman 3-1 (16-25, 25-17, 25-14, 25-22) in a non-conference match Wednesday night at Moore Gym.
The Hatters (14-7) shook off a sluggish start offensively to complete a three-game season sweep over the Lady Wildcats (6-18).
Connors recorded eight of her match-high 16 kills in the fourth set and finished with a .444 attack percentage.
"I think the star for us offensively was Shelby," Stetson head coach Kristina Hernandez said. "She really kept us in the match and I think this is the best we have seen her play. She has been doing really well, but offensively this has to be one of her better matches."
Stetson managed just six kills and committed 11 hitting errors (-.143 attack pct.) in the opening set, handing B-CU an early 1-0 lead in the match.
“It' is always hard to play a team three times in a season," Hernandez said. "As a whole, I don't feel we were very focused coming out in the first set. B-CU was really going after us, and unfortunately our team just wasn't prepared for that."
Momentum began to turn in the second set as Stetson benefited from an early 5-0 run, highlighted by back-to-back service aces by Madison Akins. The Hatters would extend the lead to 18-12 midway through the set and eventually finished off the frame on a block assist by Erika White and Akins.
"We got it back in the last three sets," Hernandez said. "Our serving finally picked up."
Stetson led wire-to-wire in the third set, hitting .312 as a team and collecting three blocks. Connors, Akins, and McKenna Foster combined for 11 kills in the frame.
The Hatters had to rally from a 12-5 deficit in the fourth set. Alexa Drost and Michelle Kastner recorded several key digs during a late 5-0 run that gave Stetson the lead for good.
Kayla Weller picked up 38 assists, moving her into fifth all-time in school history in that category. White assisted on four blocks, while Drost (13 digs) and Akins (11 digs) led the defensive effort.
Akins also recorded four of the Hatters' 11 service aces.
Stetson is now 9-2 over its last 11 matches. The Hatters will host FGCU Saturday at 3 p.m.
