By ALEX PODLOGAR
FAYETTEVILLE, NC - How many times does a college team play a match or a game at 8 a.m.?
Not many. And Fayetteville State coach Reeshemah Johnson is thankful for that.
Despite a bleary-eyed start early Saturday morning, the second half of the CIAA Roundup began with great success for the host Fayetteville State Lady Broncos, who improved to 7-1 overall and in the league standings following two straight-set victories over Lincoln (Penn. )and Virginia Union in their matches Saturday on the first day of the two-day event.
The Lady Broncos, who beat Lincoln (0-11, 0-6) by the scores of 25-18, 26-24 and 25-13 and swept past Virginia Union (3-9, 2-5) by the scores of 25-13, 25-14 and 25-21, completed the first round of Roundup matches 3-1 last weekend at Winston-Salem State. Fayetteville State will go for a 6-1 Round-up record at 10 a.m. on Sunday against Elizabeth City State.
Johnson was pleased to get out of Saturday's play with two more league victories, especially considering the circumstances.
"We did come out with two wins, but it was really, really early this morning," Johnson said. "We were a little sluggish in the first match but were able to pull through."
The Lady Broncos stepped up their play in their second match, which came three hours after the first one completed. At Arthur "Monk" Smith Community Center, FSU rolled over Virginia Union, getting a game-high 10 kills and seven services aces from Samantha Meeks (Sr., Laurinburg, N.C.). Achari Mainor (Sr. Antioch, Calif.) led all players with 28 assists while freshman Sierra Gilmore (Stedman, N.C.) added seven kills . "She didn't play a like a typical freshman," Johnson said of Gilmore. "She was outstanding."
"The second match, we really picked it up," Johnson added. "That's what I wanted to see, and that's what we're going to have to continue to do until the end of the season."
Johnson said she wants to see even more improvement in Sunday's match.
"I'm going to be looking for us to step it up beyond what we did at the end of the second match (Saturday)," she said. "I want them to play (Sunday) like it's the last game of the season. That how I want us to play for the rest of the year - like every game is the last one of the season."
Matches are scheduled throughout the day on three courts - two at Fayetteville State's Felton J. Capel Arena and one across the street from the campus at the Smith Community Center. Day 2 will begin with matches at 10 a.m. Admission is free to the public.
OTHER MATCHES:
JOHNSON C. SMITH 3, LINCOLN (PA) 0
Tahlia Jolicoeur had eight kills and Sabrina Johnson had seven as Johnson C. Smith downed Lincoln (PA) in straight sets on Saturday.
Kayla Bazemore led the team with 10 assists for the Golden Bulls (4-7, 4-4), who won by the scores of 25-20, 25-12 and 25-18.
For Lincoln (0-10, 0-5), Sharay DuBose led all players with 13 assists while Noel Webster had a team-high eight kills.
CHOWAN 3, ST. AUGUSTINE'S 2
In the most competitive match of the morning, Chowan (5-4, 5-0) rallied from two sets down for a 3-2 victory over St. Augustine's.
Karina Monroe led all players with 18 kills while Victoria Lewis had 15. Callie Armistead had 30 assists as Chowan prevailed 23-25, 24-26, 25-17, 25-20 and 15-8.
Kathryn Tokarski led St. Aug's (7-5, 5-2) with 14 kills while Roxanne Smith had a match-high 33 assists.
ELIZABETH CITY STATE 3, LIVINGSTONE 0
Whitney Green had 10 kills and Cassie Noe had 10 digs as Elizabeth City State (7-2, 6-0) swept past Livingstone 25-13, 25-7 and 25-11 in a match that needed only 53 minutes to complete. Jasmin Knox had 13 assists for the Vikings.
Livingstone (6-5, 4-3) was led by LaShaundra Ferguson's six kills and Shannon Allen's 12 assists.
WINSTON-SALEM STATE 3, BOWIE STATE 0
Ashley Harris recorded 12 kills and Kiara Brown had a game-high 21 assists as Winston-Salem State (6-6, 6-2) defeated Bowie State in straight sets, 25-12, 25-15 and 25-18. Erica Cole added nine kills for the Lady Rams.
Bowie State (2-9, 1-5) was led by Kassondra Greis' 13 assists and Jasmine Nixon's six kills.
LIVINGSTONE 3, ST. PAUL'S 0
Shannon Allen had 15 assists, six kills and three service aces as Livingstone cruised past St. Paul's 3-0.
Michelle Thompson added six kills as well for the Lady Blue Bears (6-5, 43), who won by the scores of 25-13, 25-8 and 25-18.
Jennifer Carter had nine assists for St. Paul's (0-10, 0-6) and Christa Mosely had six kills.
SHAW 3, LINCOLN (PA) 0
Shaw ended Lincoln's long day at the CIAA Roundup with a straight-set victory, winning by scores of 25-17, 25-11 and 25-20.
Lincoln fell to 0-3 on the day and 0-11 for the season overall and 0-6 in CIAA play.
Sharetta Riggins recorded a game-high 11 kills while Ashley Johnson had 13 assists for Shaw (1-6, 1-6). Janeva Carner added five service aces.
Lincoln's Noel Webster had a team-high 10 kills while Sharay Dubose had 15 assists.
ST. AUGUSTINE'S 3, VIRGINIA STATE 2
After falling in the morning's best match, St. Augustine's rebounded in the afternoon's best match, clipping Virginia state by the scores of 23-25, 25-19, 22-25, 25-19.
Kathryn Tokarski had 17 kills for the Falcons (7-5, 5-2) while Stephony Newkirk had 14 and Roxanne Smith led all players with 42 assists and four service aces., Nicolette Campbell also had a game-high 15 digs.
For Virginia State (3-5, 3-4), Jasmine Davis had 18 kills and 12 kills to lead the team while and Nikkisha Walker had 13 kills and nine digs. Jasmine Henderson had a team-high 35 assists.
CHOWAN 3, LIVINGSTONE 0
Karina Monroe had 10 kills and Victoria Lewis had nine kills and nine service aces as Chowan remained unbeaten in CIAA play after a straight-set victory over Livingstone.
Charla Hughes had 16 assists and Callie Armistead had 12 for Chowan (6-4, 6-0), which won 25-18, 25-18 and 25-13..
Livingstone (6-5, 4-3) was paced by Michelle Thompson's nine kills and LaShaundra Ferguson's eight. Shannon Allen had 15 assists.
JOHNSON C. SMITH 3, BOWIE STATE 2
Jennifer Williams had eight kills and seven aces as Johnson C. Smith rallied from two sets down to defeat Bowie State 17-25, 26-28, 25-11, 25-14 and 15-7.
Kayla Bazemore had a team-high 12 assists for the Lady Golden Bulls (4-7, 4-4).
Bowie State (2-9, 1-5) was led by Jasmine Nixon's six kills and Kassondra Greis' 15 assists.
WINSTON-SALEM STATE 3, ST. PAUL'S 0
Adrianne Alexander had 18 kills in just three sets as Winston-Salem State downed St. Pauls 25-7, 25-11 and 27-25.
Kiara Brown had a game-high 21 assists for the Lady Rams (6-6, 6-2).
CIAA VOLLEYBALL NORTHERN-SOUTHERN DIVISION ROUND-UP 2010
Host Institution: Fayetteville State University
DAY 1 (Saturday, September 18, 2010)
Court 1 Matches (Capel Arena)
10 a.m. Chowan 3, St. Augustine's 2
12 p.m. Livingstone 3, St. Paul's 0
2 p.m. St. Augustine's 3, Virginia State 0
4 p.m. Winston-Salem State 3, St. Paul's 0
Court 2 Matches (Capel Arena)
8 a.m. Fayetteville State 3, Lincoln (PA) 0
10 a.m. Johnson C. Smith 3, Lincoln (PA) 0
12 p.m. Winston-Salem State 3, Bowie State 0
2 p.m. Shaw 3, Lincoln (PA) 0
4 p.m. Johnson C. Smith 3, Bowie State 0
Court 3 Matches (Smith Community Center)
10 a.m. Elizabeth City State 3, Livingstone 0
12 p.m. Fayetteville State 3, Virginia Union 0
4 p.m. Chowan 3, Livingstone 0
DAY 2
(Sunday, September 19, 2010)
Court 1 Matches (Capel Arena)
10 a.m. Elizabeth City State vs. Fayetteville State
12 p.m. Bowie State vs. Shaw
2 p.m. Chowan vs. Winston-Salem State
Court 2 Matches (Capel Arena)
10 a.m. Virginia State vs. Livingstone
2 p.m. Elizabeth City State vs. Johnson C. Smith
Court 3 Matches (Smith Center)
10 a.m. Virginia Union vs. St. Augustine's
2 p.m. St. Paul's vs. Shaw
