BOCA RATON, Fla. — Stetson volleyball battled back from an early deficit and came away with a 3–2 victory over Alabama State on Saturday at Abessinio Court at Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena, winning by set scores of 13–25, 25–17, 25–23, 20–25 and 17–15.
The Hatters finished the match with 54 kills, 68 digs and nine total blocks while hitting .207 as a team. Stetson answered multiple Alabama State runs throughout the match, including overcoming a 6–4 deficit in the third set and a 7–6 deficit in the fifth before closing out the decisive set, 17–15.
Karsu Bayraktar led the Hatters with 14 kills and 15.5 points, while
Andrea Diaz Dominguez added 12 kills, 15 digs, two service aces and 15.5 points.
Jannelize Perez anchored the back row with a team-high 21 digs, and
Kayla Balfour contributed eight kills on a .500 hitting percentage and a team-high five blocks.
"It's great experience for the young group to learn how to fight a battle like this," said Head Coach
Yang Deng. "It's another learning lesson that sometimes results will be good and sometimes not, but we were able to get a good result today."
Deng also highlighted the contributions of several Hatters throughout the five-set victory.
"Vanessa did a good job switching roles between hitting and setting today," Deng said. "Andrea has been consistent with her performance as a six-rotation freshman, which is hard to do. Karsu was on it today with her swing, and Maia is learning how to play the speed of college volleyball."
Stetson found its rhythm in the second set after Alabama State took an 8–8 tie. The Hatters won seven of the next eight points to take a 15–9 lead, with Balfour recording three kills during the stretch and Bayraktar serving the final four points. Stetson maintained its advantage behind kills from
Vanessa Shevchenko,
Sofia Torcello,
Soraya Teston and Bayraktar before Balfour and Diaz Dominguez teamed up for the set-clinching block in a 25–17 victory.
The Hatters carried that momentum into the third set, overcoming a 6–4 deficit with six straight points to take a 10–6 lead. Bayraktar started the run with a kill before Diaz Dominguez followed with a service ace, while blocks from Bayraktar, Torcello and Teston helped Stetson build its advantage.
Alabama State later pulled within 16–14, but Diaz Dominguez answered with consecutive kills. After the Hornets closed to 18–16, Torcello and Shevchenko came through with a kill and block, respectively, before Bayraktar's kill put Stetson ahead 23–20. Alabama State fought off one set point, but Shevchenko finished the set with a kill from Torcello to give the Hatters a 25–23 win.
Stetson continued to fight in the fourth set, responding to an early Alabama State push and twice pulling within a point late in the frame. Balfour and Diaz Dominguez provided kills during the Hatters' early 4–1 run, while a Diaz Dominguez ace and Bayraktar kill later helped Stetson pull within 10–9.
The Hatters tied the set at 13–13 on a Pou service ace and another Balfour kill before Perez added an ace to bring Stetson within 18–17. Alabama State answered with the next two points and eventually forced a fifth set with a 25–20 victory.
In the deciding set, Stetson again responded after falling behind, turning a 7–6 deficit into an 11–8 lead by winning five of the next six points. Shevchenko and Balfour teamed up for a block during the run, while Balfour added a kill from Pou.
Diaz Dominguez then connected with Pou for a kill to push the Hatters ahead 12–8, but Alabama State responded with a five-point stretch to take a 13–12 lead. A service error evened the set before Torcello and Diaz Dominguez combined for a block to put Stetson back in front.
After Alabama State tied the set at 15–15, Torcello and Bayraktar delivered consecutive kills off Shevchenko assists to finish the match and give the Hatters the 17–15 victory.
The win marked Stetson's fourth of the season and capped the Hatters' weekend at the Owls Paradis Classic.
"I'm glad that we earned this win to finish the nonconference slate," Deng said. "We need to keep moving forward and continue to improve."
Hatters Top Performers
Up Next
The Hatters travel to Fort Myers, Florida, to face FGCU on Saturday, Sept. 26, at 6 p.m. at Alico Arena.
About Stetson Athletics
At Stetson University, student-athletes don't just compete—they thrive. Located in historic DeLand, Florida, between Orlando and Daytona Beach, Stetson offers the perfect blend of competitive athletics, academic excellence, and an unbeatable Central Florida lifestyle. As the oldest private university in the region, Stetson supports approximately 500 student-athletes across 19 NCAA Division I sports. Nicknamed the "Hatters" after the institution's namesake John B. Stetson, a hat manufacturer who originated the modern-day cowboy hat, most Stetson athletic teams compete in the Atlantic Sun Conference, where they proudly hold the longest active membership since 1985. With top-tier facilities, personalized support, and a welcoming campus community, Stetson is where students can grow, compete, and succeed. Learn more at GoHatters.com or follow social media accounts @StetsonHatters.
