Nov. 10, 2008

Hampton, VA - The Fayetteville State University women's volleyball team relinquished their position atop the CIAA by falling to the Lady Vikings of Elizabeth City State 3-2 (20-25, 25-17, 25-18, 16-25, 8-15) in the CIAA Championship Match on Sunday afternoon inside the Boo Williams Sportsplex. ECSU earned their first volleyball championship in school history.

The Lady Vikings (31-9) got off to a great start by capturing the first set and taking an early lead in the match. Coach Elorine Hill was able to refocus the squad and FSU won the next two sets. The Lady Broncos were up 2-1 heading into the fourth.

Fayetteville State's momentum was somewhat slowed by a lineup discrepancy in the fourth set that caused a pause in action of nearly ten minutes. Once action resumed, ECSU found their rhythm and seized the fourth set to force a fifth and final rally set.

The Lady Vikings' momentum carried over into the fifth set. With several ECSU supporters in attendance at the Sportsplex, the atmosphere felt like an Elizabeth City State home match. FSU trailed by as much as 11-4 in the final set. Eva Johnson, later named CIAA Tournament MVP, closed out the match on a kill to far right side.

Junior middle blocker and 2008 CIAA Player of the Year Chekimbrell Jefferson finished the championship with a match-high 27 kills and five digs. Sophomore outside hitter Samantha Meeks added 19 kills with a .350 hitting percentages and 11 digs. Junior utility Cailee Huffman and senior outside hitter Shatia Gidrey contributed with 26 and 11 digs, respectively. Sophomore setter Achari Mainor dished out an impressive match-high of 55 assists. Jefferson, Meeks and Mainor were all named to the All-Tournament Team for FSU.

In addition to securing ECSU's first ever CIAA Volleyball crown, the Lady Vikings now qualify for the school's first ever post season appearance with an automatic bid as the conference champions.

Eva Johnson tallied 13 kills and 20 digs, Chelsea Amick, the 2008 Rookie of the Year, had a team-high 14 kills for the Lady Vikings and Stacie West added another 11 kills off the bench.

FSU finishes the season 23-17 overall and 14-2 in the conference. Despite falling short of the championship; this season the Fayetteville State Volleyball Program had a student-athlete awarded the CIAA Player of the Year, had six student-athletes named All-CIAA and they won the Western Division.

A complete list of the 2008 All-Tournament team is as follows.

2008 CIAA Volleyball All-Tournament Team

Nicolette Campbell, Saint Augustine's College
Itumeleng Shadreck, Bowie State
Ashley Tarasoff, Elizabeth City State
Achari Mainor, Fayetteville State
Chelsea Amick, Elizabeth City State
Samantha Meeks, Fayetteville State
Jasmine McNair, Bowie State
Chekimbrell Jefferson, Fayetteville State
Eva Johnson, Elizabeth City State (2008 Tournament MVP)