WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Virginia State University volleyball put together a perfect weekend at CIAA Roundup 1, earning four conference victories at Whitaker Gymnasium to remain undefeated in CIAA play.
The Trojans opened the weekend with a 3-0 sweep of Bluefield State on Saturday morning before battling Winston-Salem State to a 3-2 victory later that afternoon. VSU continued its dominant run Sunday, defeating Claflin 3-1 before closing the weekend with another 3-1 victory over Livingstone.
With the four wins, Virginia State improved to 11-7 overall and 9-0 in CIAA play, maintaining its perfect conference record.
VSU 3, Bluefield State 0
The Trojans got the weekend started in convincing fashion, sweeping Bluefield State 25-22, 27-25, 25-16.
Virginia State used a balanced offensive attack to take control of the match, finishing with 41 kills while hitting .178 as a team. Gracie Darville led the way with 12 kills, while Anya McKinley added nine kills on an outstanding .667 hitting percentage.
McKinley also contributed two blocks and a service ace, while Darville added 12 digs. LeiLah Beasley anchored the defensive effort with 16 digs.
The Trojans erased a tight second set, winning 27-25, before closing out the match with a strong third-set performance.
VSU 3, Winston-Salem State 2
Virginia State's toughest test of the weekend came Saturday evening against Winston-Salem State, but the Trojans answered the challenge with a five-set comeback victory, 10-25, 25-10, 26-24, 18-25, 15-12.
After dropping the opening set, VSU responded immediately, dominating the second set 25-10. The Trojans then took a thrilling third set before Winston-Salem State forced a deciding fifth set.
In the fifth, Virginia State finished strong, closing out the Rams 15-12 to secure the 3-2 victory.
Darville delivered one of the weekend's biggest performances, recording 20 kills on 55 attacks while hitting .273. She also collected 10 digs. McKinley added eight kills and a block, while setter Peyton Reese recorded 28 assists, four service aces and 16 digs.
As a team, the Trojans registered 51 kills, 48 assists and 82 digs in the five-set battle.
VSU 3, Claflin 1
Virginia State carried its momentum into Sunday, overcoming an early setback against Claflin to claim a 3-1 victory, 22-25, 25-20, 25-20, 25-23.
After dropping the opening set, the Trojans controlled the next three, using strong offensive production and timely plays at the net to finish the comeback.
Darville and McKinley once again led the attack, with each recording 12 kills. Darville hit .222 while McKinley finished at .231. Noa Roberts added six kills and 15 digs, while Reese continued to orchestrate the offense with 31 assists and five service aces.
The Trojans totaled 48 kills and 44 assists in the victory while collecting 56 digs defensively.
VSU 3, Livingstone 1
Virginia State capped the weekend with its fourth consecutive victory, defeating Livingstone 25-19, 25-22, 17-25, 25-23.
The Trojans came out strong, taking the opening two sets before Livingstone responded with a third-set victory. VSU answered in the fourth, holding off the Blue Bears 25-23 to finish the weekend unbeaten.
Roberts led the Trojans with 13 kills, while Darville added eight kills and nine digs. Wynter Hill provided a spark off the bench, recording six kills on 10 attacks while hitting .500.
Reese finished with 17 assists and seven digs, while Kellee Craig made a major impact from the service line with four aces and 18 digs. As a team, VSU recorded 41 kills, 36 assists and 63 digs.
A Perfect Weekend
The four victories gave Virginia State a perfect 6-0 mark at CIAA Roundup 1, extending the Trojans' conference winning streak to nine matches.
The Trojans received contributions throughout the lineup during the weekend, with Darville providing a consistent offensive presence, McKinley producing efficient attacking numbers, Roberts stepping up with a team-high 13 kills in the finale, and Reese directing the offense from the setter position.
After four matches in Winston-Salem, Virginia State returns home with a 11-7 overall record and a perfect 9-0 mark in CIAA play.
