Fort Valley, GA - In a dramatic showdown that could preview the intensity of postseason play, the Allen University Lady Yellow Jackets took the court in their final road match of the regular season and left it all on the floor—battling the top team in the SIAC East, Fort Valley State, in an instant classic that went the distance.
Despite falling 3–2 (23–25, 25–23, 19–25, 29–27, 9–15), the Lady Yellow Jackets made a loud statement on the road against the division's best. Every set was a war, but Allen's relentless energy and resilience nearly flipped the match on its head.
Set-by-Set Breakdown
- Set 1: Fort Valley edged out a tight opening frame 25–23, using a strong start to establish tempo.
- Set 2: Allen answered right back with a 25–23 win of their own, powered by high-level play at the net and back-row grit.
- Set 3: The Wildcats regained the lead with a 25–19 third set, capitalizing on a few late errors from AU.
- Set 4: In perhaps their most impressive stretch of the season, the Yellow Jackets refused to back down, pulling off a stunning 29–27 set win to force a fifth.
- Set 5: Fort Valley managed to regroup and close out the final set 15–9, but not without feeling the pressure from a battle-tested Allen squad.
Allen out-blocked Fort Valley 10–6 and recorded more digs (94), showing just how locked in the defense was from start to finish.
Lady Yellow Jackets Impact Players
- Maliyah Spencer: Led Allen with 17 kills and added 2 assists, showcasing her all-around offensive game.
- Amaya Bernardo: Delivered 12 kills and was a factor at the net with 3 blocks.
- Saige Bradley: Notched 11 kills and 4 key blocks.
- Alivia Pettit: Ran the offense with 17 assists and contributed 3 aces.
- Zyara Harrision: Dished out a team-high 27 assists, adding 15 digs and 2 kills.
- Jamaya Davis: Dominated the back row with 22 digs, leading all players.
Looking Ahead
The Lady Yellow Jackets will now close out their regular season at home with two pivotal matchups, starting with Clark Atlanta on Tuesday, November 12th at 6:30 PM. With momentum building and confidence high after nearly knocking off the top seed, Allen is poised to make a serious run into postseason play.
