SALEM, VA (November 11, 2022) – The top two teams in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA), the nation's oldest historically Black athletic conference, will meet in the 2022 CIAA Volleyball Championship Game after triumphing in Friday's Semifinals.
Top seed Shaw University and second seed Elizabeth City State University both advanced after winning their semifinal matches at the Salem Civic Center in Salem, VA. The Bears swept Winston-Salem State University in three sets (25-15, 25-20, 25-22) and the Vikings outlasted Fayetteville State University in a thrilling five-setter (25-22, 25-21, 15-25, 24-26, 15-11).
This will be the Bears’ seventh straight appearance in the championship match, having won the championship in 2016 and 2018. This will be the Vikings’ first trip to the finals since they hoisted the trophy in 2008.
First Semifinal Match: #1 Shaw defeats #4 Winston-Salem State, 3-0
- Shaw swept Winston-Salem State on the strength of two late surges which gave the Lady Bears a 2-0 lead. In the first set, the Lady Bears scored 10 consecutive points to break away from a 14-14 tie. The second set was similar as Shaw scored nine straight points to erase a 20-16 deficit and win 25-20. The third set was all Shaw as the Lady Bears led 15-6 on their way to victory.
CIAA Offensive Player of the Year Noelani Beard sparked Shaw (23-7 overall) with 11 kills, 10 digs, and two aces. Second-team All-CIAA selection Mallory Brown added 10 kills and two aces and first-team selection Ilani Myers finished with eight kills and 10 digs.
Two-time CIAA Setter of the Year Breelyn Clark accumulated 33 assists, eight digs, and a block for the Bears.
For the fourth-seeded Rams (15-15 overall), Sanaa Lanier contributed 11 kills and second-team All-CIAA selection Breona Young finished with 10 kills. Brooke Norwood handed out 12 assists and added nine digs.
Second Semifinal Match: #2 Elizabeth City State defeats #3 Fayetteville State, 3-2
Elizabeth City State took two close sets and then held off a scrappy Fayetteville State squad in the final match of the night. In the first set, the Broncos were leading 21-20 before the Vikings earned five of the next six points. The second set was tied at 13 before Elizabeth City State went on a run to lead 21-15 before eventually winning the set. But backed by an energetic crowd that included the Broncos' cheerleaders and FSU's football team, who are playing for the CIAA crown Saturday, the Broncos climbed back into the match. FSU took the third set with relative ease. Bailey Robinson accounted for five of the Broncos' final nine points with kills. Down 24-21 in the fourth set, the Broncos scored five straight points, ending with an Elana Fuller kill to win 26-24 and force a fifth set.
The Vikings seized control in the fifth set, opening a 12-6 lead before finishing off the Broncos. All-CIAA first-teamer Elizabeth Kellum's kill gave ECSU a 13-9 lead and fellow first-teamer Jada Rouse followed up immediately with another kill. Cassandra Watson put two points on the board for FSU with a kill and an ace before the game-winning kill from Rouse.
Kellum had 13 kills and 18 assists to spark the Vikings (24-8 overall). Rouse added 11 kills (including the game-winner) and 10 digs while CIAA Rookie of the Year Clarke Blakemore and second-team All-CIAA selection Victoria White each finished with nine kills. Second-team selection Kayleigh Sullivan dished out 25 assists and CIAA Defensive Player of the Year Naijya Leggett tallied 18 digs.
Robinson finished with 15 kills and Watson totaled 13 kills to lead the Broncos (16-9 overall). Jordan Johnson collected 16 digs, second-team all-conference selection Jaida Bynum had 33 assists and first-team All-CIAA choice Xiamana Spikes recorded three solo blocks and three block assists.
Both winners will meet Saturday in the 2022 Volleyball Championship Game at 6 p.m. in the Salem Civic Center. This will be the third time they tangle this season, this time with a conference title on the line. Each team won at home during the season series. In the first match, the Vikings came back from an 0-2 deficit to win in five sets. The second match was all Shaw as the Bears gained revenge with a 3-0 sweep. By virtue of winning in fewer sets, Shaw claimed the Northern Division title and the tournament’s top seed even though both teams finished 15-1 in the conference. The Vikings earned the No. 2 seed.
Entry into the Salem Civic Center for the Championship game is free and open to the public and additionally, it will be live-streamed, available on the CIAA Sports Network at the individual pay-per-view price of $9.95.
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