WILBERFORCE, Ohio – A trio of freshmen stepped up for the short-handed Thorobreds, and helped the Kentucky State University volleyball team to the straight set (28-26, 25-15, 25-16) victory over Central State Wednesday in Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference action in the Beacom Lewis Gymnasium.

Freshman Miana Wallace (Lees Summitt, Mo.) tallied a career-high nine kills on 17 attempts with just two errors. She added a team-high four blocks, one solo and three assisted, in aiding the victory.

Making her first career start, freshman Aniah Hollowell (Cincinnati, Ohio) added seven kills on 20 attempts with six errors, while freshman Makayla Berry (Orangeburg, S.C.) also finished with seven kills on 14 attempts and two errors.

Kentucky State scored the last three points of the first set to hold off a Central State squad that took the late lead by scoring five of six points to put the Marauders on the cusp of a set victory. It was a put away by senior Tapanga Moten (New Orleans, La.) and back to back kills – on her first two attempts – by junior Robin Poole (Katy, Texas) that secured the 28-26 win.

After having CSU tally five of the first six points of the second set, Kentucky State showed its mettle and simply overwhelmed the Marauders for the 25-15 win. The third set was much of the same as the Thorobreds scored 11 of the last 15 points to complete the sweep.

Sophomore Jalyn Barnett (Detroit, Mich.) and junior Sasha Bills (Mesa, Ariz.) combined for 31 of the team's 36 assists with 16 and 15, respectively. Junior Oyuky Benitez (Laveen, Ariz.) finished with 16 digs, four assists and three service aces.

Kentucky State (18-9 overall, 15-2 SIAC) hosts Fisk University 1 p.m. Saturday in Bell Gymnasium.