Salem, VA – Fayetteville State University claimed its sixth Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Volleyball Championship with a 3-0 sweep over Shaw University in Salem, Virginia at the Salem Civic Center.
 
"I am so excited!" said the CIAA Coach of the Year Reeshemah Johnson. "I am so proud of these girls. Even when we were down in the two sets, they pulled it back. We lose three people this year, so it's on and popping next year, again."
 
Da'Nesha Miller (Hilton Head Island, SC) was named the Championship Tournament Most Valuable Player as voted on by the championship committee and tournament coaches. Miller finished the match with seven kills from 16 attacks, ten assists, one assisted block, and two digs. She had 23 kills, 34 assists, and 14 digs over the three-round tournament.
 
"The end of the game feeling, it was very surreal," said Miller. "We knew we could do this at the beginning of the season. All we had to do was work hard for it. We went through preseason for this and diets and more diets for this. I think it was a huge team effort. Everything was for this moment."  
The MVP trophy came to fruition for Miller after she reached a goal set by a teammate's mother.
 
"I only won this because of my defense. I only won this because of my setter. I only won this because of my team. This is not a me award, it is an us award."
 
Casandra Watson (Grifton, NC), the CIAA Rookie of the Year was also named to the CIAA All-Tournament Team after leading the match with 11 kills on 20 attacks. Jessica Williams (Hiriam, GA) was also named to the All-Tournament Team after six kills of her own.
 
The Broncos (19-6 overall) are 15-2 overall in three-set matches and it proved true this afternoon winning 25-15, 25-23, and 25-22 over a feisty eight-man Bears squad, who finished the season 17-10.
 
Fayetteville State had an early 10-3 lead and a later 4-0 run moved the Broncos ahead 19-13. A second run would give FSU a 23-14 behind four consecutive spikes.
 
Xiamana Spikes (Raeford, NC), who finished the match with three kills and one block, put one down to end the set 25-19.
 
Shaw battled back in the second set with a see-saw lead, holding a 23-22 lead until Jasmine Jacinto (San Antonio, TX) tied the game with a back-row kill. Jessica Williams knocked down a free ball for the 24-23 lead and put the set away with a kill on the following play.
 
The Bears remained resilient in the final set with an 8-4 lead until a couple of attack errors and back-to-back kills by Chynna Hunt (Summerville, SC) would spark a Bronco 7-2 run for an 18-12 lead. Shaw University would eventually tie the set at 21-21 behind the play of Karla Sosa, who led the Bears with nine kills. Jacinto and Williams would set up the match-point, but another kill by Sosa would close the game to 24-22.
 
Head Coach Reeshemah Johnson would begin the celebration of her sixth overall CIAA Championship with Fayetteville State after a kill shot by First Team All-CIAA Chynna Hunt.
 
This title is the third crown for Johnson in her 11^th season as the Broncos head coach. She also won two titles as a student-athlete at FSU under former coach Elorine Hill, and she won one as an assistant under Hill.
 
Fayetteville State will await its opponent in the upcoming NCAA DII Volleyball Regional Tournament.

Reesheman Johnson's Career Records:
2009   Reeshemah Johnson               20-9     .690         15-2       .882    Division 7-0* / CIAA Final
2010   Reeshemah Johnson               16-8     .667         12-4       .750    Division 7-2 / CIAA Semi Final
2011   Reeshemah Johnson              20-14    .588         13-3       .813    Division 9-1* / CIAA Semi Final
2012   Reeshemah Johnson               28-6     .824         16-0      1.000   Division 10-0* / CIAA Champions
2013   Reeshemah Johnson               19-8     .704         12-4       .750    Division 8-2 / CIAA Champions
2014   Reeshemah Johnson               18-9     .667         14-2       .875    Division 9-1* / CIAA Finals
2015   Reeshemah Johnson              12-11    .522         10-5       .667    Division 7-3 / CIAA Quarterfinals
2016   Reeshemah Johnson               19-8     .704         12-4       .750    Division 8-2 / CIAA Finals