Ettrick, Va. (Nov 14, 2024)- The Virginia State volleyball team (15-7, 13-3) defeated the Bowie State Bulldogs (9-19, 6-9) 3-1 on senior night. With the win VSU has secured the number one seed in the northern division and will host a quarterfinal matchup. 

Bowie State completely controlled set one winning 25-15. VSU used the emotions from Senior Day to open with a 6-3 advantage. The Bulldogs would answer with a 8-4 run to hold an 11-7 lead. The Trojans would tie the game at 11 and Bowie State would end the set on a 14-4 run. 

In set two VSU jumped out to a seven to three lead with kills from Morgan Green, Taniyah Epps and Gracie Darville. Eventually the Bulldogs made it an eight to six game from there the Trojans would score six straight points to gain some separation. At 14-6 both teams would trade blows before a kill from Anya McKinley made it a 24-16 game. Bowie State would get the next point before Green ended off the set with a kill. 

Set three started off as a back-and-forth affair with the score knotted at 10 apiece. The Bulldogs would score the next two points before Virginia State went on a 9-2 run with four points coming off errors by Bowie State. BSU would score a quick two to end the run before a kill from Helena Eubanks and Kelle Craig with an attack error in-between but VSU up 22-16. However, Bowie State would not go away rattling off four straight points before kills from Green and another attack error gave VSU the set 25-21. 

The fourth and final set was tightly contested all the way through. Neither team had more than a one-point lead until Bowie State held a 21-19 advantage. An attack error and a service ace from Peyton Reese tied the game at 21. However, the Bulldogs would get to 24 points first holding a two-point advantage. Kills from Darville and Green tied the game to hold off a fifth set. The teams would see themselves tied at 26 then the Trojans took over a kill from Darville made it 27-26. Then a block from Denver Watkins and McKinley won the set for VSU 28-16 and the match 3-1. 

The Trojans will enter postseason play now they will take on Livingstone on Tuesday November 19 at 6 p.m. in the MPC.