CHARLOTTE, N.C.  - The Shaw volleyball team fought back from a 2-1 set deficit to take the fourth and deciding fifth set against Johnson C. Smith at Brayboy Gymnasium Monday night in a critical CIAA match.

The Lady Bears took the first set 25-18, but dropped the next two by identical 25-21 scores.  The fourth set went back and forth, with Shaw finally pulling out a 27-25 win, sending the match into the fifth set tiebreaker.  The Lady Bears were able to hold off JCSU for a 15-13 win, giving them a 3-2 victory.

With the win, Shaw improves to 9-11 on the season, 5-8 in the CIAA and 3-4 in the Southern Division.  The win, coupled with a Saint Augustine's loss earlier today, solidifies Shaw's spot at fourth place in the division.  The top four in each division qualify for the CIAA Championship Tournament.  Johnson C. Smith drops to 3-13, 3-9 in the CIAA and 1-5 in the division.

In the fifth set, JCSU led 9-7, but Courtnee Kelly served an ace in a service run that gave the Bears a 10-9 lead.  While the Lady Golden Bulls would tie the score at ten-all, Shaw reeled off three straight points, including a kill from Shaye Walton, and took a lead they would not surrender, finally winning 15-13.

Crystal Gordon led the Lady Bears with 17 kills, followed by Shaye Walton with 14 and Sashane Watson with 12.  Michelle Oliver led Shaw with both three aces and three digs, while Kelly had 29 assists.  Walton had five blocked shots.

The Lady Bears next take to the court Monday, October 22 when they travel to Winston-Salem to take on the Lady Rams.  They return home on Thursday, October 25 to host Virginia-Lynchburg.  First serve is at 6:00 p.m. at the C.C. Spaulding Gymnasium on the Shaw campus.  The event is free and open to the public.