Sept. 30, 2009
Final Stats
FAYETTEVILLE - Just 35 days before the CIAA Volleyball tournament, Fayetteville State's Chekimbrell Jefferson gave the rest of the conference some bad news on Wednesday.
She's finally getting healthy.
Jefferson, who has battled nagging injuries throughout the season, had a game-high 14 kills and led the Broncos to a 3-0 (25-18, 25-21, 25-23) win over Shaw at Capel Arena.
"I'm getting my momentum back and it feels good," Jefferson said. "It's my last year and I'm going all out."
FSU(10-7, 9-1) has won seven straight CIAA matches and nine of its last 11 overall.
After the Broncos easily won the first two, FSU trailed 18-25 in the third set following three service errors.
That's when Jefferson took over.
The Laurel Hill, N.C. native and graduate of Scotland County High School tallied six kills in the third set, including five in a row. The kills jumpstarted not only the partisan FSU crowd, but also Jefferson's teammates.
"Kim is extraordinary right now," first-year head coach Resheemah Johnson said. "Between this match and the last, this is the first time I've seen the real Kim this season. If Kim maintains this level of play then the rest of the team will come along because they are good players as well."
Samantha Meeks recorded 12 kills, a service ace and two digs while freshmen Octavia Wynn added 11 kills and three service aces. Junior setter Achari Mainor amassed a match-high 40 assists. Senior Cailee Huffman and junior Demarius Pankey contributed five digs apiece.
The Broncos finish their four-game home stand 4-0 and now hit the road for four consecutive matches. FSU will travel to Coker, St. Augustine's, Livingstone and Shaw before returning home for senior night on Oct. 27 against Johnson C. Smith.
"The 4-0 is great and it's a good feeling," said Johnson. "However, you try not to get too excited because the season is not over. I try to keep myself level and grounded so that we know that we need to get ready for the games that are coming up."
Johnson admits that suppressing excitement is no easy task.
"It's very hard," she said. "You saw how far we were down in that third set. For them to come back and win, it was exhilarating. Although it's hard, I do have to try to keep myself and the girls grounded."
During the home stand Jefferson averaged 13 kills per match. On the season, she ranks sixth in the CIAA tallying 2.46 kills per set.
"I just feel like it's time for me to go out there and be a leader," Jefferson said. "We're getting stronger, we're getting better and we're working together as a team. That's what counts."
Sharetta Riggin led the Bears with 10 kills.
