Raleigh, NC – Freshman sensation
Casandra Watson and the Fayetteville State volleyball team have a lot to celebrate tonight as the Broncos captured the CIAA Southern Division lead with a 3-0 sweep of Shaw University on Watson's birthday.
"Let them eat cake" was the chant inside Spaulding Gymnasium as the Broncos defeated the Bears, 25-16, 25-19, and 25-23.
In a pivotal matchup between the two Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Southern Division top-tier teams, Fayetteville State (14-6, 14-2 CIAA) now leads the division with two games left with a 9-1 mark while Shaw (14-9, 14-2 CIAA) drops to second at 9-2.
The Broncos are on a six-match win streak while the Bears' loss snapped an eight-match streak and serves as the first home loss this season for the Bears in 2019 and the first sweep since 2015.
Watson (Grifton, NC) led the victory with 11 kills, eight digs, and three service aces with support from
Chynna Hunt (Summerville, SC), who finished with nine kills and two blocks, and
Diamond Holmes (Raeford, NC) who killed eight times. Nakia McKinnie (Niceville, FL) had 13 assists and
Jasmine Jacinto (San Antonio, TX) had 15 digs.
Every set was close except for the first stanza as the Lady Broncos took a 6-1 lead capped by a kill from
Diamond Holmes. Shaw had to play catch the rest of the way but by then, FSU had mounted a 22-11 charge before securing the 25-16 win with a service error from the Lady Bears.
After eight ties in the second set, FSU scored three straight to lead 15-12 over Shaw. The Bears closed the gap to two points at 18-16 but fell behind after FSU used a 7-3 spread for the 25-19 victory heading into the third set.
Facing a 2-0 deficit and desperate to stay alive, Shaw owned a 14-9 lead and would sustain a lead of at least three points until back-to-back points for FSU pulled the Broncos within 21-20. After a Shaw timeout, FSU tied the set at 21-21 and then the lead changed twice before a kill from Homes gave the Lady Broncos the one-point edge. Both teams exchanged points during the next two possessions as Shaw had an opportunity to come back, but defensively the Bears were not able to hang on, faulting the 25-23 set.
Shaw was led by Tyler Hunter and Amari Fletcher with 12 kills apiece while Jada Flowers had 25 assists.
