Ettrick, Va. (Oct. 30, 2024)- The Virginia State Volleyball team is coming off an impressive showing in the CIAA Roundup going 3-1 and beating Shaw for the first time in seven years. However, they now turn their attention to the top team in the Northern Division, the Big Blue of Bluefield State.
The Big Blue are currently 12-15 overall but 8-2 in CIAA play under interim coach Scott Walsh. In the Roundup BSU went 2-1 with wins over Fayetteville State and Livingstone while getting swept by Shaw. Bluefield State ranks third in the conference with 2 blocks per set. Janice Lynch ranks third in the conference in kills per set with 3.19 and points at 4.02 while the setter Gabby Hale is second in assists per set with 6.87.
The Trojans rank second in the conference in points per set at 15.8 and in hitting percentage at .220. Meanwhile they hold their opponents to a hitting percentage of .138 which ranks third in the conference. Gracie Darville and Amaya Cooper are in the top 10 in the conference in hitting percentage, .271 and .249 respectfully. Darville is right behind Lynch in kills per set at 3.09 while Helena Eubanks sits at eighth with 2.53 kills per set. Peyton Reese is third in the conference in assists per set with 5.24. Kellee Craig who has played every set as libero ranks sixth in the conference with 3.53 digs per set. VSU enters with a 9-7 overall record and 7-3 conference record.
The first match takes place at Bluefield State on Thursday October 31 at 6 p.m. before the Big Blue returns to the MPC on Saturday November 2 at 4 p.m.
