Volleyball opens 2024 Season with Five Home Matches
The Wiley University volleyball team will begin the 2024 season by hosting Dillard University (La.) at 6 p.m. Thursday and Tougaloo College (Miss.) at 1 p.m. Sunday in Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) matches. The Lady Wildcats will play three regular-season contests and an exhibition game in the Wiley University Showdown on Friday and Saturday at Alumni Gymnasium.
All the games will be broadcast on the Wiley University Channel on HBCU-Plus. Fans can stream online or download the free app to their mobile device or smart TV. On Friday, the Lady Wildcats will host St. Mary-of-the-Woods College (Ind.) at noon and John Melvin University (La.) for an exhibition match at 6 p.m. They will host Paul Quinn College (Texas) and Louisiana Christian University at noon and 4 p.m. on Saturday.
This will be the first time Wiley has opened the season at home since 2018. Obadiah Montgomery begins her first season as head coach after serving as an assistant coach on last season's six-win team. Six players return from 2023. Nadia Cortez took over as libero when conference play started and finished sixth in the conference with 3.47 digs per set. She was one of the Defender of the Week winners. Shyla Starks is the top returning hitter with 132 kills - recording double-digits in six matches. Fatima Ortega will wrap up her four-year career. Last season was a career campaign as she tallied 97 digs in 72 sets.
Montgomery brought in 11 new players - including eight freshmen. Annie Narvaez transferred from Rust College and finished behind Cortez with 3.28 digs per set. Jae Jemmott put up 111 kills last season at Bishop State Community College. The Lady Wildcats were picked to finish sixth in the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Preseason Poll.
Dillard (2-3) is on a three-match losing streak after opening with two victories. Freshman Makaela Swoopes leads the team with 35 kills. Sophomore Cadence Thomas follows with 33 and leads the team with 20 total blocks. Ajanae Chatham and Tyramae Fautanu split the setting duties with 80 and 63 assists, respectively. Vanae Sapp leads the team with 51 digs. The Bleu Devils are in their first season under Angela Franke after their director of athletics Dr. Linda Bell led them to a 21-11 record - finishing as regular season runner-up and reaching the conference semifinals.
Tougaloo (0-5) has dropped their first five matches. Kaliyah Shavers leads the Lady Bulldogs with 27 kills. LaShaundria Chatman follows with 22 and leads in blocks with 11. Tatyeanna Armstrong is the main setter with 49 assists. Ke'Ira Collier leads the team with 51 digs.
St. Mary-of-the-Woods (9-0) has opened the season with nine straight victories and six sweeps. Tori Schopmeyer is the top attacker with 54 kills and Karla Melendez follows with 52. Dynaida Orta leads the team with 81 assists. Lillian Breaux is second with 74. Jocelyn Chavez is the top defender with 97 digs. Evelyn Morales is the top front row player with eight blocks.
John Melvin went 6-9 last season. Paul Quinn College (5-3) is on a four-match winning streak with sweeps in its three. A 'Niyah Harrison leads the team with 56 kills followed by Carrie Weston with 54. Louisiana Christian (5-5) University has lost two of its last three matches after winning four straight. Kate Campbell leads the team with 80 kills.
For more coverage on the Lady Wildcats visit https://wileyathletics.com/sports/wvball/index
About Wiley University Athletics
Wiley University sponsors 12 varsity sports, women's volleyball, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's indoor track and field, men's and women's outdoor track and field and baseball. It competes in the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) and the Continental Athletic Conference for men's and women's soccer.
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