Winston-Salem, N.C. (Oct. 5, 2024)- The Virginia State University volleyball team swept Johnson C. Smith 3-0 on the first day of the CIAA Roundup. 

In the first set the teams were evenly matched playing to a 12-9 score with the advantage to the Trojans. VSU would score four of the next six points to build some separation. JCSU would score a quick two points to get back into the set making it 17-14. However, after that the Trojans recorded four kills from four different players and a combination of errors to win the set 25-16. 

The Golden Bulls would take an early 6-2 lead in the second set, but VSU would outscore the Golden Bulls 23-6 the rest of the set to win 25-12. Virginia State would end the game on an 8-0 run where Gracie Darville recorded three kills and Kelle Graig recorded two service aces. 

Set three was the closest set at 25-22. Neither team could gain much separation. When one team went on a run the other team answered with a run of their own. Then with the score at 22-21, Darville recorded two straight kills and then Morgan Green recorded the winning kill. 

Darville had a team high of 13 kills followed by Amaya Cooper, Green, Anya McKinley and Helena Eubanks all with seven. As a team the Trojans hit at a .356 clip. VSU now sits at 3-4 and 2-0 in the CIAA while JCSU drops to 2-5 and 0-5. 

VSU will play two games tomorrow, first against Claflin University at 11 A.M. and then the host Winston-Salem State University at 5 p.m.