Sept. 24, 2009

Final Stats

FAYETTEVILLE - So far, so good for the Fayetteville State Volleyball team on its four game home stand.

On Tuesday, the Broncos beat then-undefeated Chowan in five games.

On Thursday, led by 14 digs and two kills from senior Cailee Huffman, FSU downed St. Augustine's 3-1 (25-14, 25-13, 22-25, 25-21) at Capel Arena.

The Broncos (8-7, 7-1) have won four consecutive CIAA matches and have only three losses in September.

"We're improving, but we still have a long ways to go," FSU head coach Reeshemah Johnson. "I'm happy with the improvement that we're making, but I still think we have a lot of improving to do."

FSU easily won the first two games, outscoring the Falcons a combined 50-29. But, much like in Tuesday night's win over Chowan, the Broncos dropped the third game.

Huffman said sometimes the Broncos lose focus.

"I think it's a mental thing," she said. "People get too confident after we win the first two games so they slack off the third game. It's a mentality for the most part."

Johnson's team bounced back in the fourth game, led by senior Chekimbrell Jefferson. A graduate of Scotland High School in Laurinburg, Jefferson tallied four of her match-high 14 kills in the fourth game.

"I think we're improving and catching our wind a little better," Johnson said. "As long as we keep conditioning and just keep being committed to making every single play, I think we'll pick up in that third game as well. We have to learn how to jump on somebody and stay on them. We can't let our foot off the pedal."

According to Huffman, partisan Broncos supporters were a factor in the match.

"The crowd helps tremendously," said Huffman. "They pick us up a lot, especially when we're down."

Sophomore Samantha Meeks registered 10 kills for the Broncos while junior setter Achari Mainor had a match-high 36 assists, as well as six digs. Ifeyinwa Nwokolo gave FSU six kills and seven total blocks and Joi Emanuel added two solo blocks.

FSU and Chowan both have one loss in CIAA play, but the Broncos are in first place in the conference's western division because of its win over the Hawks on Tuesday.

The Broncos host Livingstone on Monday and Shaw on Wednesday. Both matches are free to the public and begin at 6 p.m.

"These games are giving us more confidence in our game and our team," Huffman said.

Added Johnson: "The thing we have to remember is that we play all these teams again. So we can't afford to relax and to ease off. We haven't won anything yet, we still have the second leg to go."

Shakira Carter led the Falcons with eight kills.