Ettrick, Va (Nov. 2, 2024)- The Virginia State (11-7, 9-3) defeated Bluefield State (12-7, 9-4) 3-1 after sweeping the Big Blue on Thursday. This win was number 100 in Coach Amanda Walker head coaching career. 

In set after playing nine all tie, the Trojans went on a 15-3 run that saw them record seven kills and two service aces to make it 24-12. While BSU would score two quick points a kill from Anya McKinley would give set one to VSU 25-14. 

Set two was tightly contested to start as the teams had a tie game up to the 13-point mark. However, the Big Blue would go on a 5-2 swing to gain some separation, Amaya Cooper would record a kill for one of the Trojan points. From there the teams would continue to trade points with Bluefield State winning 25-23. 

BSU jumped out to an early 5-2 advantage in the third set forcing a VSU timeout early. The Trojans fought back to tie the game at seven with a kill from Cooper and a service ace from Denver Watkins. From there the teams would continue to go back and forth with the game being knotted at 20. Then a kill from Helena Eubanks, back-to-back service aces from Kellee Craig an attack error by BSU and a kill from Cooper gave Virginia State set three 25-21. 

Bluefield once again got out to an early lead this time 11-5 which used a combination of errors from VSU and kills to score points.  Virginia State would slowly chip away at the deficit with four straight points making it 14-12 in favor of the Big Blue. The Trojans continued to tie the game, but Bluefield State got it to match point at 24-21. However, kills from Craig and Watkins combined with a service ace from Leila Jackson tied the game at 24. Bluefield State would get the next kill but Watkins answered with one of her own. Two errors by the Big Blue, one via a block from Peyton Reese, won the match for VSU 27-25. 

With this win Coach Walker had hit the century mark for her career in her seventh season leading the Trojans.