Ettrick, Va (Nov. 19, 2024)- For the first time since the 2019 season the Virginia State volleyball team is headed to the CIAA Semifinals after sweeping Livingstone 3-0 in the CIAA Quaterfinals. 

Set one was a back-and-forth affair until the Trojans got kills from Morgan Green and Gracie Darville to make it 14-10. The Blue Bears would score two quick points and the teams would continue to trade points until kills from Denver Watkins and Peyton Reese made it 24-18. LC would score three of their own before another kill by Watkins won the set for VSU 25-21. 

Livingstone would jump out in front of the Trojans in set two 10-6. After a VSU timeout they would answer scoring five of the next seven points to make it a 12-11 game. The Blue Bears would answer with a run of their own, scoring six of the next seven to grow their advantage to 18-12. The Trojans started to chip away at the deficit at 22-17 and with Peyton Reese going back to serve she started a 5-0 run to tie the game. The Blue Bears would score two more points to make it set point, but the Trojans would score the final four points of the set with two attack errors by Livingstone, a service ace from Helena Eubanks and a kill from Darville. 

In set three the teams would see the teams be tied at 14. The Blue Bears would get to the 20-point mark first after a kill making it 20-17.  After a kill from Anya McKinley, Reese once again started a run with her serve getting the score to 22-21 in favor of VSU. LC would score two points to regain the lead however a kill from Eubanks, a service ace from McKinley and an attack error won the match for VSU 3-0 after winning set three 25-23. 

The Trojans will now head to Bowie State for the CIAA Semifinals where they will be playing Fayetteville State on Saturday November 23.