Following a successful match against Alabama State University Friday at the Al Lawson Multipurpose Center in the SWAC opener, the Florida A&M Volleyball team was prepared to carry the momentum into their match against Alabama A&M University. 

With the top spot in the SWAC Volleyball standings on the line, the Lady Rattlers fell short to the Bulldogs, 3-2, in an intense five-set match.  

Florida A&M aimed to control the match on its home court by diversifying its attack and forcing Alabama A&M’s defense to adjust. 

Setter, Makenzie Taylor, balanced the offense between the middle and outside hitters, while Alabama A&M’s net defense disrupted crucial second and third set runs. 

“We made sure to study the [Alabama A&M’s] block tendencies before the game,” Taylor explained. “We knew early on to keep our middle and our right sides active, by moving them around to confuse the opponent.” 

Taylor led the team with 17 clutch assists during Friday’s match, leading the team with 341 thus in the season. 

Aggressive serving from the baseline was a key part of the Rattlers strategy to disrupt the Bulldogs offense and limit quick-attack opportunities.  

Outside hitter, Sydney Whitfield, and the back row unit came up with crucial digs to extend key rallies, but late breakdowns in the fifth set allowed the visitors to claim the final two-point advantage. 

“When we try to play frantic and overcompensate for each other’s job, that’s when we start to lose focus,” Whitfield admitted. “If we just remember to focus on what we have to do, we’ll be successful.” 

Whitfield was recently honored by the SWAC league office as Offensive Player of the Week. She recorded a team-high of 41 kills across both matches this past weekend. Along with 23 digs and four blocks, she averaged 4.56 kills and 2.56 digs per set. 

With two matches in 48 hours, managing fatigue and rotation depth was key for Florida A&M. However, late-set execution provided decisive, with Head Coach Gokhan Yilmaz stressing the importance of finishing critical conference sets with greater precision. 

“No matter who we put there [left-side hitters], I thought we would end up with better execution from that side to create transition opportunities,” Yilmaz acknowledged. “We’ll be making a tweak at the position moving forward for the season, focusing on low back digging against heavy-hitting opponents.” 

As Florida A&M prepares for a demanding road swing, the Lady Rattlers are prioritizing practices and conditioning to sharpen execution, correct mistakes and strengthen their endurance ahead of back-to-back matches. 

The Lady Rattlers will face the Delta Devils of Mississippi Valley State University in Itta Bena, Mississippi, on October 2^nd at 3 p.m. 

Following that matchup, the Lady Rattlers will face the Tigers of Jackson State University in Jackson, Mississippi, on October 4^th  at 1 p.m.