RALEIGH, NC – The Shaw University volleyball team begins its quest for a conference title on Tuesday, Nov. 14, when the Lady Bears host Bowie State in a CIAA Tournament quarterfinal match at historic C.C. Spaulding Gymnasium. Admission is free to the match, which starts at 6 p.m.
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The winner advances to play the Bluefield State-Fayetteville State winner in the semifinals on Saturday, Nov. 18 at 4:30 p.m. The CIAA semifinals and final will be held at Bowie State University in Bowie, Md., on Nov. 18-19. Eight teams – the top four in the Northern and Southern Divisions – qualified for the CIAA Tournament with the quarterfinals at the sites of the higher seeds.
Shaw is seeking its fifth CIAA Tournament crown and first since 2018. The Lady Bears have landed in the championship match seven straight seasons.
The Lady Bears (27-5 overall), the Southern Division No. 1 seed, just completed possibly their best regular season in school history. They swept the conference with a spotless 18-0 mark, a feat that hadn't been accomplished by a CIAA team in 12 years. The 27 wins are the most in a season for the Lady Bears since 2017.
Shaw, ranked seventh in the Atlantic Region, has been dominant during their unbeaten run through the CIAA. The Lady Bears rank first in 10 of 13 categories including points, hitting percentage, assists, kills, service aces and digs.
Individually, several Shaw players are ranked in the CIAA in various categories.
Kamille Patrick and
Hailey Hopkins are first and second, respectively, in hitting percentage.
Lauren Janok is the CIAA assists leader and ranks fourth in service aces. Patrick ranks second in service aces and fifth in blocks.
Jasmine Culp ranks sixth in digs and Lillian Carson and
Noelani Beard rank fifth and eighth, respectively, in kills. The trio of Carlson, Patrick and Beard rank sixth, seventh and eighth, respectfully, in points.
Nationally, the Lady Bears lead all Division II teams in service aces and aces per set. They rank second nationally in opponent hitting percentage. Patrick ranks sixth nationally in Division II in service aces and aces per set.
Bowie State (6-25 overall, 4-13 CIAA) made the tournament as the No. 4 seed in the Northern Division after a late run, winning four of its last five matches including the last two. The Bulldogs qualified for the tournament after a five-set road win over Virginia State, also a tournament qualifier.
The Bulldogs are led by Nina Edwards, who ranks eighth in the CIAA in hitting percentage and blocks. Madison Adderly-Julien leads Bowie State in kills and Tristynn Kerr ranks eighth in the CIAA in service aces.
