Richmond, Va. (Oct. 21, 2024)- The Virginia State volleyball team traveled to rival Virginia Union and played in an exciting five set game but ultimately dropped the match 3-2 to the Panthers.  

In the first set the teams were tightly contested with VSU holding a 9-7 advantage. However the Trojans would then score 10 of the next 13 points to go up 19-10. The Panthers would fight back in the set scoring four straight to make it 21-15 but kills from Peyton Reese and Gracie Darville combined with a bad set by Union gave the Trojans the set 25-15.  

The second set was a back and forth affair with VUU getting a four-point advantage 20-16. The Trojans were able to make it a one point game 24-23 with back-to-back kills from Helena Eubanks and Resse however the Panthers would win the set 25-22. Set three was the reverse of the second as VSU had a four-point lead 20-16. The Trojans would score five of the last seven points with four different players registering a kill. 

VSU opened with an 8-3 run in the fourth set. However when the Trojans got to 15 points VUU answered with a six point run to tie the game. With the game tied at 22 a kill from Reese were the only point the Trojans scored as VUU won the set 25-23.  In the final set VSU would start with an 8-3 lead with seven points coming from kills. The Panthers would the score seven of the next nine points to tie the game at 10. VUU would win the set 15-12 after a pair of kills and errors by VSU. 

Three different players, Darville, Amaya Cooper and Eubanks finished with double digit kills 

Virginia State now drops to 6-6 and 4-2 in conference while Virginia Union improves to 7-14 and 4-5 in conference play. Next up for the Trojans will be the CIAA roundup as the host.