TUSKEGEE, Ala. -- Miles found a way to overcome its biggest rival and keep alive hopes for a SIAC regular season title at the same time.
Alyzia Cola (28 assists, 11 digs) and
Karea Copeland each had a double-double, with Copeland hitting.438 with a match-high 16 kills, 10 digs and three blocks as the Lady Bears took down the Golden Tigers in four sets (25–15, 17–25, 25–19, 25–11) for their sixth straight victory. Thursday night at the Daniel "Chappie" James Center. Miles (23–7, 14–2 SIAC) has now defeated the Golden Tigers (18–11, 12–5 SIAC) in three straight matches and is now just two games back of Spring Hill with three to go.
Miles opened the match with an impressive first set, recording 11 kills and hitting .625. The set was close before the Lady Bears scored seven straight points - with two kills from Copeland and two service aces by Kyla Knox - to take control. Miles, though, struggled in the second set with eight attack errors as Tuskegee managed to even the match.
The Lady Bears regrouped in the third set, producing 13 kills and capitalizing on six Tuskegee attack errors. The set was close before Miles scored five straight points late with kills from Knox and Copeland and a combo block by Kayla Trawick and Navaeh Bellamy take a 23–17 advantage. A kill by Destinee Evans closed out the set and put Miles on the doorstep of victory. then delivered its strongest defensive performance of the match in the fourth set, limiting the Golden Tigers to five kills and hitting -.138. The Lady Bears would score the final seven points of the match, which included Bellamy teaming on combo blocks with Copeland and Aida Edwards, who had the final kill of the match.
Bailey Jones led Miles defensively with 14 digs, Evans, Kori Brown and Jaharia Hunter each had six kills while Bellamy recorded seven block assists and Aida Edwards added six block assists to strengthen the Lady Bears' presence at the net.
Miles is back in action on Friday when it faces Spring Hill in Mobile, Ala. First serve is set for 6 p.m.
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