ETTRICK, Va. (Apr. 24, 2026) – The higher seeds advanced with authority on the opening day of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA®) Women’s Tennis Championship, as all four quarterfinal matchups ended in 4-0 decisions.
Bluefield State University opened the championship with a 4-0 win over Livingstone College. After securing the doubles point, Bluefield State maintained control throughout singles play, earning wins across multiple positions to close out the match. Additional points were awarded due to retirements and a default at the No. 6 position.
Johnson C. Smith University followed with a 4-0 victory over Elizabeth City State University. The Golden Bulls set the tone early in doubles play and carried that momentum into singles, earning wins at the No. 1, No. 2, and No. 5 positions to secure the sweep.
Shaw University delivered a dominant performance in its 4-0 win against Virginia Union University. The Lady Bears opened with a pair of 6-0 decisions in doubles and continued that level of play in singles, not conceding a game in completed matches.
Virginia State University closed out the day with a 4-0 victory over Winston-Salem State University. The Trojans secured the doubles point before adding singles wins at the No. 2, No. 3, and No. 6 positions to complete the result.
With the quarterfinal round complete, the semifinal matchups are set for Saturday. Bluefield State University will face Johnson C. Smith University, while Shaw University will take on Virginia State University with a berth in the championship match on the line.
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.