RALEIGH, N.C. – Shaw rebounded after a first-set loss and swept the next three sets, taking a 3-1 win from CIAA divisional rival Johnson C. Smith in a match played Thursday evening at C.C. Spaulding Gymnasium. 

With the win, Shaw improves to 6-4 on the season, 3-1 in the CIAA and 1-0 in the division. Last season, Shaw totaled only four wins overall and three wins in the conference.  JCSU drops to 0-4, 0-4 in the CIAA and 0-1 in the division. 

The Lady Bears fell behind early in the first set and while they trimmed an early 11-point deficit to only four points at 17-13, they could not draw closer, falling 25-20.

The second set started close, and midway through, Shaw held a slim 11-10 lead.  Crystal Gordon then reeled off five service points including three kills by Shaye Walton to give Shaw the 17-10 lead.  The Lady Golden Bulls trimmed that lead to only three when Gracyn Doctor slammed a service ace, but Quianna Myers got the kill for Shaw on the next serve.  The Lady Bears claimed the second set 25-21.

The third set started much as the second one had - with Shaw building a slim lead - in this case 9-7 - before taking advantage of two kills by Crystal Gordon to build a 17-9 lead.  Kayla Bazemore then found a hot service hand, running off seven service points - including two aces - to tie the game at 17. 

Shaw then ran off five straight points before the Lady Golden Bulls could get their serve back, and that was all Shaw needed, closing out the set 25-20.

Shaw opened up a six-point lead early in the fourth, eventually extending it to a 24-8 lead.  But sitting on game point, Shaw gave up seven straight points before a JCSU service error gave Shaw the 25th point and the four-set victory.

Gordon and Watson led the Lady Bears with 14 kills apiece, while Walton finished with ten.  Courtnee Kelly had 37 assists to lead Shaw while Michelle Oliver paced the Lady Bears with five aces.  Quianna Myers had 14 digs, while Oliver had 13 and Watson had 12.

Doctor had nine kills for the Lady Golden Bulls while Bazemore topped her squad with 20 assists and five aces.  Teyonna Gore had 12 digs, while Sabrina Johnson and Imeshia Jones had ten each.

The Lady Bears return to action Saturday morning when they take on Morris College at 10:00, and resume CIAA play on Monday when they host Winston-Salem State at 6:00 p.m.  Both games will be at C.C. Spaulding Gymnasium on Shaw's main campus.