Sept. 22, 2009

Final Stats

FAYETTEVILLE - The Fayetteville State volleyball team did something, on Tuesday, which no one else in the CIAA had accomplished in 2009.

Thanks to a team-high 11 kills from senior Chekimbrell Jefferson and timely blocks from freshman Ifeyinwa Nwokolo, the Broncos handed Chowan its first CIAA loss of the season via a 3-2 (25-18, 25-19, 8-25, 13-25, 15-8) win at Capel Arena on Tuesday.

"We've had two good practices this week and it translated to the court tonight," FSU head coach Reeshemah Johnson said. "Between them (Chowan) and Elizabeth City State, that's our competition at the top of the conference. We really wanted to beat them tonight so we could put ourselves in their category."

FSU (7-7, 6-1 CIAA) won the first two games convincingly. However, the Broncos struggled in games four and five scoring just 21 combined points.

In the fifth game, Nwokolo recorded four of her six blocks and sparked FSU to its seventh win of the season.

"The first two sets were immaculate," said Johnson. "I don't know what happened in the third and fourth, but in the fifth we pulled it back together. That's what I wanted our team to understand, that's what champions are made of."

Senior Cailee Huffman had a game-high 23 digs, while outside hitter Samantha Meeks contributed eight kills and 13 digs.

"This was a team effort," Johnson said. "Volleyball is a team sport and it takes an entire team to win. It can't be one person and that's what the whole team realized. When everyone did what they were supposed to we won those first two sets. In the fifth set we pulled it together, everyone contributed and we were able to win."

Tuesday night's match was the first of a four-game home stand for FSU. The Broncos host St. Augustine's on Thursday at 6 p.m., before welcoming Livingstone on Monday and Shaw on Sept. 30.

"Our confidence was raised tonight," Jefferson said. "But, we don't take anyone or any win for granted. This will allow us to see the things we still need to work on and evaluate ourselves."

The Hawks (12-5, 8-1 CIAA) had three players with 10 or more digs and freshman setter Callie Armistead had a match-high 32 assists.

"I really saw something that I wanted to see out of my team tonight," Johnson said. "I think this win will give our girls more confidence as far as what they are able to achieve."