RICHMOND, VA — Shaw University turned in one of its most complete performances of the season Thursday evening, sweeping Virginia Union 3-0 in Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association action inside Barco-Stevens Hall.
The Lady Bears captured the match 25-18, 25-21, 25-22 to improve to 2-9 overall and 2-1 in CIAA play. Virginia Union fell to 3-6 overall and 0-2 in conference competition.
Shaw controlled the match offensively, finishing with 37 kills against just 13 attack errors on 109 attempts for a .220 hitting percentage. The Lady Bears also collected 56 digs, seven service aces and eight block assists while holding Virginia Union to a .089 hitting percentage. The Panthers committed 24 attacking errors on 123 attempts.
The night also featured a career milestone for setter Justus Alexander, who recorded 23 assists and nine digs while surpassing 500 career assists in a Shaw uniform.
Leana Gould paced the Shaw offense with a match-high 12 kills on 29 swings, hitting .276 while adding seven digs and two block assists. Kamaria Sanders delivered an efficient performance at the net, totaling 10 kills with just one error on 17 attacks for a team-best .529 hitting percentage. Sanders also added a block assist.
Shaw established itself early in the opening set, producing 14 kills and hitting .265. The Lady Bears limited Virginia Union to eight kills and forced seven Panther attack errors, holding the hosts to a .027 hitting percentage in the frame. Shaw pulled away to take the opener, 25-18. SUVUU-VB1 SUVUU-VB1
The second set featured another strong defensive effort from Shaw. Although the Lady Bears' offensive percentage dipped to .119, Virginia Union struggled to find any rhythm, committing 10 attack errors and finishing the set with a minus-.045 hitting percentage. Shaw took advantage and secured a 25-21 victory to move within one set of the sweep.
Virginia Union made its strongest push in the third set, registering 19 kills and hitting .286. The Panthers, however, were unable to slow Shaw's offense at the other end.
The Lady Bears committed just one attacking error in the final frame and hit .303, their best percentage of the night, before closing out the match with a 25-22 victory. The deciding set featured nine ties and seven lead changes, but Shaw responded during the critical late points to complete the straight-set win.
Nevaeh Ortiz contributed across the floor with four kills, a service ace and a match-high 15 digs. Sydni Hunter finished with three kills without an attack error, hitting .333 while contributing four block assists. Tatiyana Stevenson provided three kills on five attacks for a .600 hitting percentage in two sets.
Shaw also created pressure from the service line. Taelin Connolley, Jasine Roberson and Khori Viltz recorded two aces apiece, while Ortiz added another. Roberson added six assists and five digs, while Viltz totaled five digs and two assists.
Defensively, Mary Barnes added seven digs, Gould collected seven and Alexander finished just one dig shy of double figures with nine. The Lady Bears' 56-39 advantage in digs helped Shaw extend rallies and limit Virginia Union's opportunities throughout the evening.
Alana Simmons led Virginia Union with nine kills, 14 digs and four service aces, while Maria Pena also finished with nine kills. Alexandra Perot added six kills for the Panthers.
The contest featured 18 ties and 14 lead changes overall, including nine ties and seven lead changes in the final set, but Shaw consistently delivered the decisive points when each frame tightened.
The Lady Bears are back in action September 28 as they travel to Ettrick, VA to face the Virginia State Trojans. First serve is scheduled for 6 PM inside the MPC.
