Posted: Sep 13, 2025
Volleyball rallies past SUNO in HBCUAC Opener
NEW ORLEANS - With its back against the wall and faced with a must-win, Wiley University volleyball didn't surrender. It endured and emerged victorious in five sets against Southern University at New Orleans (23-25, 18-25, 25-19, 25-23, 16-14) in its Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) opener Friday at the Castle.
The Lady Wildcats (2-2, 1-0 HBCUAC) overcome a two-set deficit for the first time since 2017. It was also their first road victory since October 20, 2023, snapping an 11-match losing streak. Wiley wins its conference opener for the third time in four seasons.
Shyla Starks led the attack with 17 kills - one shy of her career-high. Jae Jemmott and Rachelle Santos followed with 13 and 10, respectively. The Lady Wildcats outscored the Knights 55-47 in kills. Madison Herrera topped her career-high with 31 assists while contributing two kills and two service aces. Leah Monsegue, who received her most significant action of the season, posted a double-double with 12 assists and 11 digs. Nadia Cortez posted a match-high 21 digs and added two service aces. Kerrigan Biggs and Johna Davis led the block with three block assists.
How it Happened:
- The Lady Wildcats struck first in the opening set, but SUNO answered, taking advantage of two errors and getting a kill and a block. Wiley trailed by as many as five. Santos got a kill and two service aces. A kill by Shyla Starks cut the deficit to one. A kill by Jemmott and an attack error tied the set at 23. Two blocks sealed the set for the Knights
- Two kills by Biggs helped Wiley jump out to a five-point lead in the second set. The Knights were able to rally. A kill, two service aces and a bad set gave SUNO a 14-13 lead. Three kills and two attack errors pushed the margin to five. The Lady Wildcats were unable to recover, as it fell by seven.
- The Lady Wildcats put down 14 kills in the third set. SUNO pulled out to a five-point lead. Kills by Jemmott and Starks pulled Wiley even. Trailing 11-9, kills by Starks and Santos put the Lady Wildcats ahead. A service ace by Guinyard, two errors by the Knights and a kill by Santos increased the lead to five. A kill by Starks and an ace by Herrera extended the match.
- Wiley put down 13 kills in the fourth set. Kills by Starks and Johna Davis and an ace from Herrera gave the Lady Wildcats a 14-11 lead. The Knights called a timeout and benefited from three attack errors to claim a two-point lead. Kills by Santos and Cortez gave Wiley a 20-19 lead. A block by Biggs and Davis sent the match to a decisive fifth set.
- Four kills and an ace gave SUNO a three-point lead. Switching ends after the Knights scored the eighth point shifted the momentum. Two kills by Jemmott, a kill by Starks and an ace by Santos put Wiley ahead. Two attack errors gave the Knights an 11-9 lead. Three kills from Starks and one from Biggs put the Lady Wildcats in position to claim match point. An attack error extended the match. A block by Biggs and Davis and an attack error by SUNO completed the comeback for the Lady Wildcats.
UP NEXT: The Lady Wildcats will visit the defending HBCUAC Tournament champion Dillard University at 11 a.m. on Saturday.
For more coverage on the Lady Wildcats, visit https://wileyathletics.com/sports/wvball/index.
About Wiley University Athletics
Wiley University sponsors 13 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, softball and baseball. It competes in the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC).
Wiley University sponsors 13 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, softball and baseball. It competes in the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC).
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