CHARLOTTE, N.C. (September 25, 2025) — With the nonconference schedule now complete, CIAA women’s volleyball programs turn their focus to conference play, which begins tomorrow. The opening month of the season has already provided early tests, signature wins, and breakout performances that set the tone for what promises to be a competitive stretch run.
In the Southern Division, Livingstone has put together the strongest start at 5-3, leaning on defensive consistency and an offense that has found balance across multiple rotations. Fayetteville State follows closely behind at 4-3, showing flashes of the championship form that has defined the Broncos in recent years. Shaw has played to an even 2-2 mark, while Winston-Salem State (3-6), Johnson C. Smith (1-3), and Claflin (0-7) look to use the start of conference play as a chance to reset and climb the standings.
In the North, Virginia Union has emerged as the early leader at 3-4, showing growth with each outing. Bluefield State (3-10) and Bowie State (2-9) have endured challenging schedules but gained valuable experience, while Virginia State (1-7), Lincoln (PA) (0-7), and Elizabeth City State (0-8) look to convert lessons from September into wins as conference action begins.
Individual standouts have already left their mark on the season. Livingstone’s MacKenzie Morgan has anchored the Blue Bears’ back row, piling up digs at one of the top rates in the conference. Fayetteville State’s depth has created multiple scoring threats, while Virginia Union’s front line has been a force at the net, producing one of the strongest blocking units across the CIAA.
Nonconference action has also highlighted the parity across the conference. Several matches have gone the distance, with multiple programs pushing opponents to five sets. That resilience and fight will be critical as the intensity ramps up with every divisional matchup.
Conference play officially begins today, bringing with it the rivalries, high-energy atmospheres, and tight battles that define CIAA volleyball. With momentum up for grabs and postseason positioning ahead, the second half of the season promises to deliver drama from opening serve to final point.
Media Contact:
Anna M. Butzlaff
Associate Commissioner, Strategic Communications
Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA)
abutzlaff@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 14 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.