Sept. 14, 2011
Final Stats
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. - JaMisha Jordan is the engine that runs Fayetteville State's car.
And with the departure of four-time All-CIAA performer Achari Mainor, the means the Lady Broncos have a good chance to contend once again in the CIAA.
Jordan, a Fayetteville native, led all players with 29 assists to go with five service aces and fueled the Lady Broncos offense as Fayetteville State snapped a four-game skid with a 3-1 victory over UNC Pembroke on Wednesday night in the home volleyball opener at Felton J. Capel Arena.
The Lady Broncos won by the scores of 25-22, 20-25, 25-22 and 25-22.
Jordan, a preseason All-CIAA selection as a libero, has stepped into Mainor's big shoes as the Lady Broncos' setter, giving front-liners Octavia Wynn (Jr., Hope Mills, N.C.), Nikita Cheadle (So., Hope Mills, N.C.) and Joi Emanuel (Jr., Charlotte, N.C.) plenty of the attack opportunities they enjoyed while playing with Mainor.
"JaMisha has really stepped up her game for us," said Fayetteville State coach Reeshemah Johnson. "A setter on a volleyball team is like a quarterback on a football team. She makes everything go."
And Fayetteville State went.
The Lady Broncos (4-6), aside for a close back-and-forth game in the opening set, controlled the pace of play throughout the match. Fayetteville State dominated the final points of the first set, getting opportune kills from Wynn and Emanuel - set up by Jordan - to put UNC Pembroke (4-6) away.
Even in the set they lost, the Lady Broncos were in control - until the end. Fayetteville State, thanks to three Jordan aces in a 6-0 spurt, raced out to an 11-3 lead and held an 18-12 advantage late. But UNC Pembroke, after coach Jeff Billington benched his starters midway through the set, came alive. The Lady Braves ripped off nine straight points to take a 21-18 lead, then closed on a 13-2 run to steal the second set, 25-20.
"We let one get away," Johnson said.
But the Lady Broncos, who finished with 15 team aces, came right back. After struggling with the opening points in close losses against good competition over the weekend at the Mt. Olive Invitational, Fayetteville State had little trouble racing out to hot starts against UNCP. The Lady Broncos led 10-6 after two Emanuel aces, then took an 18-12 advantage. Though Pembroke , with equal parts starters and reserves, came right back again to close within one, a block by LaToya Harvin (Fr., Bell Glade, Fla.) and Cheadle broke serve and pushed FSU to the 25-22 victory.
It was more of the same in the fourth set. FSU opened with an 11-6 edge, UNCP came back within one, but Cheadle broke serve three times with kills, eliminating any chance for UNCP to put together even a minor run. Decausha McLean's ace at match point sealed the win for the Lady Broncos, who showed their mettle in picking up the victory.
"This says a lot about our team," Johnson said. "We had some tough losses against tough teams over the weekend, but the girls came back and they worked on things themselves, without the coaches around. That shows what kind of girls we have. To come back with a win like this over a good program like UNCP says a lot about our team's character."
Wynn led FSU with 12 kills while Cheadle added 11. Emanuel finished with seven kills while McLean had a match-high 25 digs.
Rebecca Morgan led all players with 17 kills for Pembroke. Tricia Varno added seven. Ashlyn Rebok had 20 assists while Heather Bolwerk added 17.
Fayetteville State travels to Hampton, Va., to play in the CIAA Roundup over the weekend. The Lady Broncos return home on Sept. 20 to face Southern Division rival Winston-Salem State.
