SALEM, VA --The Fayetteville State volleyball team fell 3-2 (22-25, 21-25, 25-15, 26-24, 11-15) to the Elizabeth City State Vikings Friday at Salem Civic Center in the CIAA Volleyball Championship's Semifinals.
The championship tournament loss dropped Fayetteville State to 16-10 on the season. No. 2 Elizabeth City State (25-8) will take on No. 1 Shaw tomorrow night in the Championship finals.
The Broncos' offense was paced by Bailey Robinson, who finished with 15 kills on the day while accumulating a hitting percentage of .462, and by Casandra Watson, who had 13. FSU got 16 digs from Jordan Johnson along with six blocks from Xiamana Spikes to lead them defensively.
Game Notes
» Casandra Watson had a match-high three aces in the loss.
» Fayetteville State never trailed on the way to winning the third set 25-15.
» Bailey Robinson had a match-high 15 kills for Fayetteville State.
» Fayetteville State got a team-high 16 digs from Jordan Johnson.
» Fayetteville State attackers were helped by a match-high 33 assists from Jaida Bynum.
How It Happened
SET 1 | The Broncos fell in a back-and-forth first set, losing 25-22 in a game that featured seven lead changes and was tied eight times. Neither team led by more than four points in the match.
SET 2 | Fayetteville State then lost the second set 25-21 to fall behind in the match two sets to none. The Broncos trailed by as many as six points as Elizabeth City State grabbed the advantage for good at 14-13 in a set that was knotted up seven times before the Vikings took over in the second half of the stanza.
SET 3 | Fayetteville State rallied back to pull within two sets to one, winning their first set of the match in the third stanza. The Broncos led from the first point on in the set to secure a 25-15 victory. Fayetteville State ended on a high note, claiming its biggest lead, 10 points, to finish off the set, totaling 16 kills in the process.
SET 4 | Fayetteville State then kept the comeback train rolling, winning the fourth set 26-24 to bring the match level at two sets apiece. The Broncos persevered in a back-and-forth set to win in a stanza that featured nine lead changes and was tied 13 times. Neither team was able to grab a lead larger than four points along the way. Fayetteville State also supplemented their offense with three aces in the set.
SET 5 | Fayetteville State dropped the first two sets, but rallied to tie it at 2-2 before falling 15-11 in the final set. Despite strong serving, the Broncos dropped the fifth set. Fayetteville State totaled three aces in the set loss.
Gallery: (11-11-2022) CIAA Volleyball Semifinals
