DELAND, Fla. — Stetson volleyball earned a 3-1 victory over Bethune-Cookman on Saturday at Insight Credit Union Arena at the Edmunds Center, winning by set scores of 25-18, 25-18, 20-25 and 25-11. The Hatters improved to 3-2 on the season after completing the home-and-home sweep of the Wildcats.
Stetson finished with 65 kills and a .280 hitting percentage, while Bethune-Cookman recorded 43 kills and hit .143. The Hatters saved their best for the fourth set, using an 8-0 run to turn a 14-9 lead into a 22-9 advantage before closing out the match.
The Hatters jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the opening set behind a
Karsu Bayraktar kill from
Vanessa Shevchenko and two Bethune-Cookman attack errors. Stetson extended its advantage to 7-1 after a
Kayla Balfour kill,
Jannelize Perez ace, another Bayraktar kill and an
Andrea Diaz Dominguez kill.
The Wildcats pulled within 11-6, but the Hatters answered with a Bayraktar kill from Maia Keely Pou and a Balfour kill to push the lead back to seven. Bayraktar added another kill before consecutive Bethune-Cookman attack errors helped Stetson take a 17-9 lead. The Wildcats later cut the deficit to six at 21-15, but kills from
Keely Starnes, Balfour and
Lelia Fitz put the Hatters at set point before Bayraktar closed out the 25-18 victory.
Stetson carried its momentum into the second set, taking a 4-2 lead before Fitz's kill sparked a seven-point run. Perez served the final six points of the surge, which included kills from Fitz and Diaz Dominguez and pushed the Hatters ahead 11-2.
Bethune-Cookman trimmed the lead to 15-9 behind three straight points, including consecutive Moriah Johnson kills, but Balfour answered with a kill. Fitz then added another kill before Balfour and Diaz Dominguez teamed up for a block to give Stetson a 19-10 advantage. Torcello and
Soraya Teston added kills as the Hatters reached 23-13, and after the Wildcats scored four straight, Torcello finished the set with a kill for the 25-18 win.
The third set remained close early, with the teams tied at 8-8. Diaz Dominguez provided several early kills, while Bayraktar put Stetson ahead 8-7 before Bethune-Cookman responded. The Wildcats moved ahead 11-8, but kills from Diaz Dominguez, Fitz and Bayraktar helped the Hatters pull within one at 13-12.
Bethune-Cookman then scored seven consecutive points to build a 20-12 advantage, with Isabella Pedrosa recording three service aces during the run. Stetson mounted a late comeback, cutting the deficit from eight points to four at 23-19 behind kills from Torcello, Bayraktar and Shevchenko, but the Wildcats held on for the 25-20 victory.
The Hatters quickly regained control in the fourth. After Bethune-Cookman tied the set at 2-2, Stetson scored six straight points, including a Diaz Dominguez kill, a Fitz-Torcello block and a Perez ace, to take an 8-2 lead.
The Wildcats stayed within striking distance and pulled to 14-9, but Fitz's kill sparked an 8-0 Hatters run that put the match firmly in Stetson's control. Perez served throughout the surge and added another ace, while Diaz Dominguez, Fitz and Bayraktar contributed kills. Fitz and Torcello teamed up for another block as Stetson took a 22-9 lead.
Bethune-Cookman briefly stopped the run with a Johnson kill, but the Hatters responded with kills from Bayraktar, Torcello and Shevchenko to close out the set 25-11 and secure the 3-1 victory.
Head coach
Yang Deng credited the team's continued growth and the contributions throughout the lineup following the win.
"We are improving in all areas, from our young setters running the show to our newcomers and players stepping into new roles," Deng said. "Not a lot of them have a lot of experience, but they are functioning well and connecting really well. We have players coming off the bench at different times and contributing. Overall, I think we did a really good job this game."
Deng also highlighted the development of several Hatters, including Diaz Dominguez and Bayraktar.
"Andrea is doing an excellent job as a freshman," Deng said. "She has the game knowledge, coachability and effort. For Karsu, the improvement from last year is huge. Her legs are feeling better, so she has more freedom to do whatever she wants. She is very coachable, learning the game very well and playing the style I ask her to play."
Deng also praised Perez for her all-around performance and continued development.
"JP always gives great effort and is a great communicator," Deng said. "We are working a lot on passing and serving, and she has improved since the spring semester. Now we are working on defense and transition. She has always been really good defensively with her physical effort, and today she did a better job reading the game and staying focused for a long period of time. Her serving was also really good today. She basically did everything right, getting her 33, so I'm proud of her as well."
Saturday's victory also featured several career-best performances for the Hatters. Perez set a new career high with 33 digs, while Shevchenko established a career high with 19 digs. Bayraktar recorded the first double-double of her career with a career-high 17 kills and 10 digs, while Diaz Dominguez posted the second double-double of her career with 13 kills and 11 digs. Maia Keely Pou also recorded a career-high 23 assists.
Kayla Balfour has now hit at least .313 in each of the Hatters' last two matches, while three Stetson players — Bayraktar, Diaz Dominguez and Fitz — recorded double-digit kills.
Hatters Top Performers
Up Next
The Hatters will hit the road Wednesday, Sept. 9, visiting UCF at 6 p.m. at The Venue in Orlando, Fla.
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
