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Opposite Isaiah Fedd midway through the third game delivered a kill that had such a loud impact on the floor it echoed throughout Beacom/Lewis Gym.
It was the type of kill over multiple Central State blockers and bouncing near the 10-meter that has made Fedd one of the top players in the SIAC.
Fort Valley State coach Larry Wrather’s reaction to the kill was a pointed comment to his setter – keep setting Fedd high because he can hit over the top.
The setter listened and made the adjustment running the Fort Valley State offense.
Fedd finished with a match-high 12 kills on a .400 attack percentage as Fort Valley State swept Central State 25-14, 25-21, 26-24 on Saturday in Wilberforce, Ohio.
This was the third consecutive match that Fedd had double-digit kills and hit at least .400. The 2023 Freshman All-American also had seven kills and committed one attack error in the third game to complete the sweep against the Marauders.
Along with the offensive performance, Fedd led all players with four aces to help the Wildcats remain undefeated in SIAC play.
Fort Valley State in the victory out-hit Central State .269 to .085, including having a match-best .400 attack percentage in the opening game.
Outside attacker Jaxon Hicks finished with nine kills, while Raheem Thomas added four kills and zero errors on a .571 attack percentage against Centra State.
Central State middle attacker Nicholaus Gooden-Brooks in the loss had seven kills and hit .417. Pin-hitter Tyrone Sands had a team-high eight kills but was limited to a zero attack percentage.
Central State nearly avoided the sweep and led the third game 24-22. The Wildcats, though, fought off two game-points to force overtime, and then in overtime closed out the match on a Fedd kill and a Central State attack error.
Fort Valley State faced a four-point deficit early in the second game before going on a 10-3 run that was capped off with an ace from Raheem Thomas. Central State rallied to cut the Fort Valley State lead to 20-19, but Fedd and Hicks each had two kills as part of a 5-2 run to win the game.
Hicks in the opening game led all players with five kills and had no attack errors in the Wildcats’ 11-point win. In addition, Fort Valley State did not commit an attack error until late in that game and finished with a match-low two attack errors.
Fort Valley State with this victory remains in sole possession of first place in the SIAC. The Wildcats can win at least a share of the SIAC regular season championship for the first time in program history if they wins one of their two remaining matches.