ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. – Top-seeded Fayetteville St. opened the CIAA Volleyball Championship with a commanding performance Monday night, defeating eighth-seeded Bluefield St. in straight sets, 25-20, 25-13, 25-18, at the Rocky Mount Event Center.
The victory improves the Broncos to 23-4 overall and sends them into Tuesday's semifinal round, where they will face Elizabeth City State at 4:30 p.m.
After Bluefield State jumped out to an early lead in the opening set, Fayetteville State responded with a decisive run fueled by the play of Amori Johnson and Kemyah Harris. The Broncos pulled away late to claim the set and seize momentum for the remainder of the match.
Fayetteville State dominated the second frame, building a double-digit lead behind an efficient offensive attack and strong defensive play at the net. The Broncos hit .371 in the set while limiting the Big Blue to just .079 hitting en route to a 25-13 victory.
The third set featured several lead changes early before the Broncos gained control midway through the frame. Fayetteville State closed the match on a 12-6 run to complete the sweep and secure its place in the semifinal round.
Kemyah Harris led the Broncos with 12 kills while posting a team-best .414 hitting percentage. Amori Johnson added seven kills, while McKenna Miller, Destiny Washington, and Erin Johnson each finished with seven kills.
The Broncos' attack was directed by setters Melissa Gonzalez and Giovanna Teixeira, who recorded 18 assists apiece, while libero Jasmine Culp anchored the back row with 13 digs.
At the net, Mya Hejl contributed six total blocks to help limit Bluefield State to a .061 hitting percentage for the match. Fayetteville State finished with 47 kills, 45 assists, 77 digs, and six total blocks.
Soniya Garner paced Bluefield State with seven kills, while Kaileigh Solis recorded a match-high 17 digs.
Fayetteville State will return to action Tuesday in the CIAA Volleyball Championship semifinals against Elizabeth City State. First serve is set for 4:30 p.m. at the Rocky Mount Event Center. Fans can follow live stats and tournament updates at FSUBroncos.com and on Fayetteville State Athletics social media channels.
