Ettrick, VA – The Virginia State Women's Tennis team will take on Shaw (1-2), Winston-Salem State (0-0), Johnson C. Smith (2-5) and Livingstone (0-1) in the CIAA Round-Up this weekend. The two-day event will be hosted by Bowie State University on Friday, March 18 and Saturday, March 19. Fridays' matches will commence at 11:00 a.am and 5:00 p.m. while Saturday's matches will start at 8:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
Virginia State (1-0) is coming off a 5-2 victory against Virginia Union in their season opener. VSU got off to a good start, claiming 2-of-3 doubles matches after losing a match due to a forfeit. The Trojans would go on to pick up three singles matches while dropping two due to forfeits. Jayce Gaither and Ginger Johnson won their singles matches, 6-0 and 6-1. Ginger Johnson and Ashleigh Charles teamed up to win their doubles match, 6-0 and 6-1, while Jayce Gaither and Zimaris Smith won their doule match by an identical score of 6-0 and 6-1.
Shaw took the victory in their first match of the season against Averett, 4-3 yet, fell 7-0 to Mount Olive to open the season. The Bears dropped a match against Charleston (W.V.), 5-2 but are fresh off a win against Benedict, 6-1. The Trojans are 1-13 against Shaw in matchups dating back to 2010. VSU is 1-9 in the last 10 matchups against the Bears and look to snap a seven-game losing streak.
Winston-Salem State was slated to open their season against Meredith on March 1 but has since had their last six matches postponed or cancelled. The Rams are scheduled to make their season debut against Virginia Union at 11:00 a.m. on Friday. The Trojans are an even 5-5 against WSSU in matchups dating back to 2011. VSU has lost the last three matchups prior to winning five-straight matches against the Rams.
Of all the weekend matchups for VSU, Johnson C. Smith has the most playing experience this season as the Golden Bulls have played seven matches while only having two cancelled. While JCSU has only won one of their last five matchups, the squad is fresh off a 7-0 victory against Livingstone as they only allowed the Blue Bears to win five games in a total of nine matches. The Trojans are 6-5 against JCSU in matchups dating back to 2011. VSU has lost the last five matchups prior to winning six-straight matches against the Golden Bulls.
Livingstone is 0-1 on the year while having their most recent matchup against WSSU postponed. The Blue Bears were bested by JCSU, 7-0, in their only matchup of the season on March 5. LC is slated to make their season debut in the CIAA Roundup this weekend against Elizabeth City State. The Trojans are 9-0 against LC in matchups dating back to 2010. VSU averages eight points per match against the Blue Bears while shutting them out in five of the nine matches.
