Fayetteville State and Livingstone Advance to 2026 CIAA Volleyball Championship Final
Broncos Seek Back-to-Back Titles as Lady Blue Bears Pursue Conference Crown Following Semifinal Sweeps
ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. (November 10, 2026) – The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA®) has set the stage for an exciting championship showdown as top-seeded Fayetteville State University and third-seeded Livingstone College advanced to the 47th CIAA Volleyball Championship Final following straight-set victories in Tuesday's semifinal round at the Rocky Mount Event Center.
Fayetteville State defeated fourth-seeded Elizabeth City State University, 3–0, while Livingstone swept seventh-seeded Bowie State University, 3–0, to secure their places in Wednesday's championship match.
The two programs will meet Wednesday, November 11, at 12:00 p.m. ET, with Fayetteville State seeking its second consecutive CIAA title and Livingstone looking to capture the conference championship under CIAA Coach of the Year Ericka Charleston.
Semifinal Results
| Matchup |
Result |
| No. 3 Livingstone vs. No. 7 Bowie State |
Livingstone wins 3–0 (25–22, 25–15, 25–16) |
| No. 1 Fayetteville State vs. No. 4 Elizabeth City State |
Fayetteville State wins 3–0 (25–11, 27–25, 25–21) |
Livingstone Sweeps Bowie State to Secure Championship Berth
No. 3 Livingstone def. No. 7 Bowie State, 3–0
25–22, 25–15, 25–16
Third-seeded Livingstone College continued its impressive postseason run with a commanding straight-set victory over seventh-seeded Bowie State University.
The Lady Blue Bears delivered a balanced performance, finishing with 46 kills and a .281 hitting percentage while limiting the Bulldogs to 32 kills and a .085 hitting percentage. Livingstone also held a 60–48 advantage in digs.
CIAA Rookie of the Year Hailey Henriquez led the offensive attack with 14 kills, while CIAA Offensive Player of the Year Oliwia Jaroszewicz added 12 kills and two service aces. Second Team All-Conference selection Da'Maia Bryant contributed 10 kills and six blocks.
Defensively, Second Team All-Conference libero Tialofa Alofipo anchored the back row with 23 digs, while Mya Dalpiaz added 11 digs.
Justyce McKennie directed the offense with 21 assists, followed by Masa Simovic with 12 assists.
Under CIAA Coach of the Year Ericka Charleston, Livingstone advanced to the championship match following postseason victories over Shaw University and Bowie State.
Fayetteville State Rallies Past Elizabeth City State to Reach Third Consecutive Final
No. 1 Fayetteville State def. No. 4 Elizabeth City State, 3–0
25–11, 27–25, 25–21
Top-seeded Fayetteville State University secured its third consecutive CIAA Volleyball Championship appearance with a straight-set victory over fourth-seeded Elizabeth City State University.
The Broncos opened the match with a dominant first-set performance, hitting .417 and using a strong service run from Second Team All-Conference setter Giovanna Teixeira, who recorded four service aces during a 10-point stretch.
Elizabeth City State responded in the second set, building a 23–18 lead and later holding set point at 24–20. Fayetteville State answered with a late rally, scoring seven of the final eight points to claim a 27–25 victory.
The Vikings again challenged the Broncos in the third set, taking a 15–8 lead before Fayetteville State responded with a 17–6 run to complete the sweep.
Second Team All-Conference selection Kemyah Harris led Fayetteville State with 15 kills and a .353 hitting percentage, while Erin Johnson added six kills and hit .455. First Team All-Conference middle hitter Mya Hejl contributed five kills and two block assists.
Teixeira finished with 19 assists, four service aces and eight digs, while Melissa Gonzalez added 12 assists. Jasmine Culp anchored the defense with a match-high 19 digs.
For Elizabeth City State, Kendall Washington recorded a double-double with 11 kills and 10 digs, while First Team All-Conference selection Cameron Mitrovich contributed seven kills. Golden Brown directed the Vikings' offense with 23 assists.
Fayetteville State finished with 40 kills, seven service aces and a 66–47 advantage in digs while holding Elizabeth City State to a .057 hitting percentage.
The victory improved the Broncos to 24–4 overall and marked their third consecutive appearance in the CIAA Volleyball Championship Final. After finishing as runner-up in their first appearance and capturing the 2025 conference title, the Broncos will look to secure back-to-back championships.
Championship Match Set: Fayetteville State vs. Livingstone
The championship stage is set for a matchup between two of the conference's top programs.
| Championship Details |
|
| Date |
Wednesday, November 11, 2026 |
| Time |
12:00 p.m. ET |
| Location |
Rocky Mount Event Center, Rocky Mount, N.C. |
| Matchup |
No. 1 Fayetteville State vs. No. 3 Livingstone |
| Broadcast |
CIAA Sports Network |
Fayetteville State enters the championship match seeking its second consecutive conference title, while Livingstone looks to complete its postseason run with a championship victory.
The matchup also features several of the conference's top postseason honorees, including CIAA Offensive Player of the Year Oliwia Jaroszewicz, Rookie of the Year Hailey Henriquez and Coach of the Year Ericka Charleston of Livingstone, along with Fayetteville State All-Conference selections Kemyah Harris, Mya Hejl and Giovanna Teixeira.
Fans can watch the championship live on the CIAA Sports Network at theciaasn.com.
Admission is FREE, with parking available for $10.
For additional championship information, visit theciaa.com.
Media Contact
Matisse S. Lee
Senior Associate Commissioner, Communications & Marketing, Special Projects / SWA
Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA)
mlee@theciaa.com
About the CIAA
Founded in 1912, the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) is the first, and longest running, African American athletic conference in the U.S. and one of the most recognized conferences in Division II. The CIAA conducts 15 championships attended by more than 150,000 fans from around the country. The Basketball Tournament has been honored as a 2019 Champion of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism by Sports Destination Management, the leading publication with the largest circulation of sports event planners and tournament directors in the sports tourism market, for both 2018 and 2019.
Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, the CIAA is governed by the Presidents and Chancellors of its 12 member institutions: Bowie State University, Bluefield State University, Claflin University, Elizabeth City State University, Fayetteville State University, Johnson C. Smith University, Lincoln University of Pennsylvania, Livingstone College, Shaw University, Virginia State University, Virginia Union University, and Winston-Salem State University.
For more information on the CIAA, visit theciaa.com and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
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