Nov. 7, 2009

Final Stats

HAMPTON, Va. - Chekimbrell Jefferson and Ifeyinwa Nwokolo combined for 22 kills in Fayetteville State's 3-0 (25-20, 25-20, 25-23) semifinal win over St. Augustine's on Saturday.

FSU will meet Chowan in the CIAA Championship on Sunday at 1 p.m. It will be the Broncos' third-straight appearance in the conference's title game.

"I'm looking forward to tomorrow's game," first-year head coach Reeshemah Johnson said. "This one was great, but it was a stepping stone."

Through four matches in the tournament, FSU has dropped just one set.

"We've been working twice as hard in practice and it's really showing," junior setter Achari Mainor said. "Yesterday's win over Elizabeth City really motivated us to come out and play well against St. Augustine's."

FSU is 1-1 this season against Chowan. Both teams won on their home floor, including a 3-1 victory by Chowan 10 days ago that clinched the Western Division title for the Hawks.

Last season, the Broncos dropped a heartbreaking five-set match to the Vikings in the championship match.

Johnson believes that match has been the driving force behind her team's play this season.

"It's had a tremendous effect on our team," Johnson said. "They were so disappointed last year that they want to get this done."

Junior Samantha Meeks tallied six kills and eight digs. Johnson said Meeks' performance has been a key in FSU's run to the title match.

"She has played with such composure," she said. "She has played like a senior. Whatever game plan we give her, she executes it flawlessly. I'm so impressed with her, like I said before, she is the most all-around player in the CIAA and she's performing like it."

Chowan hasn't dropped a set in the tournament while going 4-0.

In FSU's 3-2 win over Chowan on Sept. 22, Jefferson had a team-high 11 kills and senior Cailee Huffman amassed 23 digs.

"We're playing well and we're motivating each other," said Mainor who had a match-high 35 assists on Saturday. "We're talking a lot and being good teammates."