ETTRICK, Va. (Apr. 25, 2026) – Shaw University closed out a dominant run at the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA®) Women’s Tennis Championship, securing its eighth consecutive title with a 4-2 victory over Bluefield State University on Saturday at Virginia State University.
The championship match opened with Shaw taking control in doubles play. Wins at the No. 1 and No. 3 positions secured the early 1-0 advantage, while the No. 2 match went unfinished.
Bluefield State responded in singles competition, earning victories at the No. 3 and No. 5 positions to even the match at 2-2. Shaw answered at the top of the lineup, delivering wins at No. 2 and No. 1 singles to clinch the match and the championship. Remaining matches were halted once the deciding point was secured.
The title caps a strong two-day performance for Shaw, which opened the championship with a 4-0 quarterfinal win over Virginia Union University. The Lady Bears set the tone early with a sweep of doubles play and continued their dominance in singles, not conceding a game in completed matches.
Shaw advanced to the final with another 4-0 victory in the semifinal round over Virginia State University. The Lady Bears secured the doubles point with wins at the No. 1 and No. 3 positions before adding straight set victories at No. 2, No. 3, and No. 5 singles to complete the sweep.
On the opposite side of the bracket, Bluefield State University reached the championship match with a 4-0 quarterfinal win over Livingstone College. After claiming the doubles point, Bluefield State maintained control throughout singles play to secure the result.
In the semifinal round, Bluefield State earned a 4-1 victory over Johnson C. Smith University. The Big Blue secured the doubles point with a win at No. 1 and a default at No. 3, then added singles victories at No. 1 and No. 3 to advance.
Johnson C. Smith opened the championship with a 4-0 quarterfinal win over Elizabeth City State University, while Virginia State University advanced past Winston-Salem State University with a 4-0 decision to round out the semifinal field.
With the victory, Shaw extends its championship streak to eight and continues its run as the standard in CIAA women’s tennis.
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.