Box Score WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Fayetteville State battled back and forth with Bowie State in a tightly contested CIAA Round-Up match Sunday morning but ultimately fell 3-2 at Gaines Gymnasium. The Bulldogs claimed the match by scores of 21-25, 21-25, 26-24, 25-23, and 15-13. Fayetteville State moves to 9-3 overall and 6-2 in CIAA play, while Bowie State improves to 6-7 overall and 4-4 in the conference.
Offensively, Fayetteville State generated 74 kills and a .215 hitting percentage.
McKenna Miller led the Broncos with 20 kills while adding 14 digs.
Mya Hejl matched the offensive intensity with 19 kills on a stellar .500 hitting percentage and contributed three block assists.
Kemyah Harris also recorded 19 kills, giving Fayetteville State three players with at least 19 kills in the match.
Setter
Giovanna Teixeira directed the Broncos' offense with 44 assists and 11 digs for a double-double, while
Melissa Gonzalez added 16 assists. Defensively,
Tamari Hill paced Fayetteville State with 18 digs and three service aces, and
Tione Freeman contributed 17 digs. The Broncos finished with 95 digs as a team.
The Broncos appeared poised for a sweep after securing the opening two sets. Fayetteville State used strong defensive play to take control early, winning the first set 25-21 before capturing the second by the same score. The Bulldogs responded in the third set, surviving a late Broncos rally to earn a 26-24 victory and extend the match. Bowie State carried that momentum into the fourth set, edging Fayetteville State 25-23 before holding off the Broncos in a hard-fought fifth set, 15-13.
Bowie State was led by Taylor Johnson's 14 kills, while Melisa Anacius added nine kills and four total blocks. Setter Gabrielle Hale recorded 39 assists, and Payton Swinton posted a match-high 22 digs to help the Bulldogs rally from a two-set deficit.
Fayetteville State will have their final game of the CIAA Round-Up at 1:00 PM against Virginia Union. Fans can follow all the latest updates, schedules, and results at fsubroncos.com and by following @FSUBroncos on social media.
