RALEIGH, N.C. — Shaw University used a balanced offensive attack and a strong night from the service line to defeat Virginia Union 3-1 Monday evening in CIAA volleyball action at C.C. Spaulding Gymnasium.
The Lady Bears earned the victory by scores of 25-20, 25-21, 16-25 and 25-21 during Shaw's Pink Out match.
With the victory, Shaw improved to 5-14 overall and 5-6 in CIAA play. Virginia Union fell to 6-10 overall and 3-7 in conference action.
Taelin Connolley led the Lady Bears with 10 kills while hitting .250 and added four service aces for a team-high 14 points. Sydni Hunter turned in one of Shaw's most efficient offensive performances, recording eight kills on 17 attacks with only two errors for a .353 hitting percentage. Hunter also added two total blocks.
Nevaeh Ortiz contributed across the board with seven kills, 12 digs and two service aces, while Tatiyana Stevenson finished with six kills, three aces and two total blocks.
Setter Justus Alexander directed the Shaw offense with 20 assists and also collected 10 digs for a double-double. Mary Barnes paced the Lady Bears defensively with 13 digs and matched Connolley with four service aces. Jasmine Roberson added seven assists and two aces.
Shaw finished the night with 41 kills on 120 attacks while hitting .117 as a team. The Lady Bears also registered 16 service aces, 47 digs and six total blocks. Virginia Union totaled 38 kills, 14 aces, 47 digs and six blocks while hitting .109.
The opening set featured several early ties as neither side created much separation. Virginia Union battled back to even the frame at 7 before the teams continued trading points through the middle stages.
Shaw began to create distance behind Connolley's attack and a productive serving run from Stevenson. With the Lady Bears leading 16-15, Shaw put together a 5-0 surge highlighted by kills from Connolley and Layla Wood along with a Stevenson service ace to build a 21-15 advantage.
Virginia Union managed to cut the deficit to 23-20, but an attack error by the Panthers gave Shaw set point before Barnes delivered a service ace to close the opening frame 25-20.
The Lady Bears carried that momentum into the second set, jumping in front 6-1. Connolley supplied two early kills during the run, and Roberson added a service ace.
Virginia Union slowly worked its way back into the set and eventually erased Shaw's advantage. The Panthers took their first late lead at 19-18 before the Lady Bears responded.
A Virginia Union attack error tied the set at 19 before Connolley delivered a service ace and another Panther error pushed Shaw ahead 21-19.
Ortiz then produced a key kill to make it 22-20. Shaw reached set point following consecutive Virginia Union attack errors before Ortiz finished the frame with a kill, giving the Lady Bears a 25-21 victory and a 2-0 advantage in the match.
Virginia Union refused to go quietly.
The Panthers controlled the third set from the start, racing out to a 6-1 advantage and eventually stretching the margin to 12-3. Shaw attempted to work its way back behind kills from Leana Gould, Ortiz, Stevenson and Hunter, but Virginia Union maintained control.
The Panthers hit .156 in the third while holding Shaw to seven kills and a .000 hitting percentage. Virginia Union closed the set with three straight points to earn a 25-16 victory and extend the match.
The Panthers carried that momentum into the fourth set and quickly put Shaw in another hole.
Virginia Union opened a 5-1 advantage and later stretched the lead to 15-10. Facing the possibility of a deciding fifth set, the Lady Bears responded with their biggest run of the night.
Ortiz began the rally with a kill and followed with a service ace. Gould then converted a kill before Ortiz delivered another ace, cutting the Virginia Union advantage to 15-14.
After a Panther point briefly stopped the run, a Virginia Union service error brought Shaw within one. Stevenson followed with a service ace to tie the set at 16.
Shaw continued its surge with a Virginia Union attack error, a Hunter kill and another Panther mistake as the Lady Bears turned a five-point deficit into a 19-16 advantage.
Virginia Union stayed close and trimmed Shaw's lead to 21-20, but the Lady Bears again responded at the service line.
Hunter put down a kill for a 22-20 advantage before Barnes delivered consecutive service aces to give Shaw match point at 24-20. Virginia Union fought off the first match point, but an attack error on the ensuing rally sealed Shaw's 25-21 fourth-set win and the 3-1 match victory.
Alexandra Perot led Virginia Union with a match-high 12 kills and hit .474. Maria Pena added nine kills, while Sanai Doster finished with seven. Kanaiya Parham recorded 12 assists and five service aces, while Jordan Carter led the Panthers with 15 digs.
The victory capped Shaw's Pink Out night with the Lady Bears honoring those who have fought and continue to fight breast cancer.
Shaw returns to action this weekend at the CIAA Round Up II this weekend hosted by Virginia State.
