Bluefield, W. Va. (Oct. 31, 2024)-Playing their first of two games this week the Virginia State volleyball team swept Bluefield State 3-0. The Trojans recorded eight aces in the match which is slightly above their two per set average this season.
After playing the first set to a 10-10 tie the Big Blue would score two quick points before VSU went on a 5-0 run. Both Amaya Cooper and Anya McKinley recorded kills, and Kellee Craig had a service ace making it 15-12. The Trojans would take advantage of attacking errors by Bluefield State to grow the lead to eight, 22-14. A service ace from McKinley ended the set 25-16.
Set two saw the Trojans open with an 8-4 advantage as five different players recorded kills. The Big Blue would eventually tie the game at 9 apiece thanks to a four-point swing. However, a service error then back-to-back kills by Helena Eubanks began a 6-2 run for VSU making it 15-12. From that point the teams would trade points until an attacking error and a kill from McKinley made it a 23-19 game in favor of Virginia State. A kill from Morgan Green got VSU to set point and eventually after two Bluefield State points a bad set made it 25-22.
Set three was completely controlled by the Trojans as they won 25-15. Early in the set the teams were again going back and forth having a tie game at 9, but from that point VSU exploded with a 10-3 run, During the run half the points were recorded via the kill, one from Cooper, two from Gracie Darville, one from Celene Mclean and one from Green. The Big Blue would score two quick points to try and stop the Trojan momentum but Cooper, Eubanks and Green all recorded kills and two BSU errors won the match for the Trojans.
Eubanks was the only player in the match with double digit kills with 10 and Green was close behind with nine. Both Peyton Reese and Leila Jackson had at least 15 assists, 17 and 15 respectfully. VSU now improves to 10-7 overall and 8-3 in the conference, putting themselves within a game of second place in the northern division as Bluefield State sits at 9-3 in conference and 12-16 overall. After a day's rest both teams will square off on the first Saturday of November inside the MPC at 4 p.m.
