BOWIE, MD -- Chiara Vittoni notched her third triple-double of the season with 11 kills, 12 digs, and 20 assists to lead the Fayetteville State volleyball team to a 3-0 victory (25-23, 25-18, 25-22) over the Virginia State Trojans Saturday at AC Jordan Arena. This semifinal win improved Fayetteville State's overall record to 18-4 on the season and advanced them to the championship match, which will be played on Sunday, November 24th at 12:00 pm. The Trojans ended their season with a 16-8 record.
Vittoni's stellar performance was complemented by Jourdan Page, who added 18 kills to bolster the Broncos' offense. On the defensive end, Jasmine Culp contributed significantly with 28 digs, while Milana Cvetkovski added three blocks.
The match began with a tightly contested first set, where the Broncos edged out the Trojans 25-23. Fayetteville State grabbed the lead for good at 22-21 in a set that saw two lead changes. The Broncos' offense was dominant, with 19 of their 25 points coming from kills.
In the second set, Fayetteville State continued their momentum, securing a 25-18 victory. The Broncos never trailed by more than five points and took the lead for good at 14-13. The set featured four lead changes, and the Broncos' offense was boosted by three aces. Defensively, they blocked four Virginia State attacks.
The third set was another close contest, but Fayetteville State managed to pull through with a 25-22 win. The set featured three lead changes and was tied seven times, with neither team opening up a lead of more than four points.
Despite the loss, Virginia State's leading player, Helena Eubanks, had a significant performance with seven kills and nine digs. Eubanks' efforts were commendable, but they were not enough to overcome the Broncos' strong team play.
Fayetteville State's victory was marked by several key performances. Vittoni's triple-double was a highlight, along with Page's match-high 18 kills and Culp's match-high 28 digs. The Broncos' attackers were well-supported by Vittoni's 20 assists, and Tione Freeman added a match-high two aces. The Broncos' balanced attack and solid defense were crucial in their win, setting the stage for their upcoming championship match.
