BALANCED ATTACK LIFTS ROANE STATE TO STRAIGHT-SET VICTORY OVER DYERSBURG STATE

Roane State Lady Raiders volleyball bounced back in a big way on Saturday, sweeping Dyersburg State in straight sets to secure their second conference victory of the season. The 3-0 win came one day after a tough loss and showcased renewed energy, balance, and depth across the roster.

"Everybody was able to get in on this win," said head coach Jaymee Hannan. "Madyson (Bethea) been very productive, but it was good to give her a little bit of a break because she's been hurting a little bit. Kaitlyn (Foster) hit really well tonight. Our middles are starting to get into the mix a little more, which is good. They're running the game — we just have to get the timing down."

The Lady Raiders' offense found rhythm early, hitting .222 in the opening set behind consistent attacking from Eddy Brown and Foster. Brown led all hitters with nine kills on 23 swings for a .304 percentage, while Foster tallied seven kills and added a solo block to finish with eight points.

Setter McKenna Cameron guided the offense with 25 assists to go along with six kills and eight digs, contributing in nearly every phase of play. Jaylynn Bullock anchored the back row with a team-high 37 digs, continually extending rallies and setting the tone defensively.

"Jaylynn, both yesterday and today — she gets hits up that nobody else can touch," Hannan said. "She always hustles to get to the ball. Between her and McKenna, they're really the core of what keeps us in most rallies. They go after everything, they talk, they hustle, and it's easy for everybody else to keep going when those two are leading the way."

Across the board, Roane State showed a more aggressive and disciplined approach at the net. Lily Cathcart added four kills and two block assists, while Madyson Bethea contributed two kills, a solo block, and solid defensive support. Jadyn Parker chipped in two kills with 13 digs, and Kenlee Hayden provided two service aces to spark momentum runs in the first and second sets.

"This last round through conference, we've been doing a much better job," Hannan said. "We're young and a little inexperienced, but we're starting to not be that anymore."

Looking ahead, Roane State prepares to face Pellissippi State in tournament play — a matchup Hannan said will require sharp serving and defensive execution.

"They're a tough matchup for us," she said. "We're going to have to serve well, keep the ball in the court, and be aggressive. When we control the pace, we do okay. When we let the other team control it, that's when we struggle. We just have to own our side of the court."