BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- There was little doubt that Miles was going to make an appearance in the SIAC Women's Volleyball Tournament next month. A season full of great play has vaulted the Lady Bears towards the top of the league standings and seeding for the championship has been more of the focus.
But after rolling through four matches at the Miles College Cluster undefeated this weekend, the Lady Bears formally clinched their playoff spot and currently have the best overall record (20-8 overall, 13-2 SIAC) and most wins of any school in the conference. Each of Kentucky State (3-1), Lane (3-0), Central State (3-1) and LeMoyne-Owen (3-1) were dispatched in such a way that the rest of the SIAC must take notice that Miles is a legitimate threat to challenge for the conference championship.
Outside hitter
Karea Copeland continued to put together an exceptional campaign, recording 81 kills while hitting .284 over the weekend. She added 39 digs, 10 blocks (two solo) and eight service aces.
Kori Brown (28 kills, .414) and
Jaharia Hunter (23 kills, .550) hit very well,
Alyzia Cola (137 assists) and Navaeh Bellamy (13 kills, 13 blocks)also had strong weekends for the Lady Bears.
Against KSU, Miles faced set point in the opening game before a kill by Edwards evened the score and Brown finished off the comeback after receiving a feed from Cola. While the Lady Bears dropped the second set, four early blocks in the third set led to a bunch more errors from the Thorobreds before Copeland dominated the final set (five kills, a block, a service ace) with help from Bellamy and Brown (three kills each) to close out Kentucky State. Miles hit .361 in sweeping Lane to end the first day.
Destinee Evans (11 kills, .500), Copeland (12 kills, eight digs, three assists and three aces) and Hunter (12-0-17, .706) were the big hitters while Cola (37 assists, three kills) and
Bailey Jones (16 digs) played big roles as well.
On Saturday, the Lady Bears avenged one of their conference defeats with a four-set win over CSU. Copeland was dynamic, hitting .367 while finishing with a career-high 29 kills and adding 10 digs. Brown (season-high 18 points) hit 462 with 16 kills and three blocks (one solo), Cola had a season-high 40 assists and
Kayla Trawick finished with a season-high 18 digs which gave her 800 for her career. Miles finished the Cluster with a four-set win over LeMoyne-Owen. Copeland had another double-double (18 kills, 10 digs), Bellamy had six kills and six blocks (one solo), Jones finished with 25 digs, Cola added 24 assists and nine digs, and Hunter had another big day (11 kills, .435).
Miles is back in action on Thursday as it travels to face Tuskegee. First serve is set for 6 p.m.
