BOWIE, MD – Bowie State University punched its ticket to the CIAA Volleyball Semifinals with a straight-set sweep over Winston-Salem State, earning a 25-21, 30-28, 25-22 victory Friday afternoon inside A.C. Jordan Arena. The win marks the Bulldogs' first CIAA Quarterfinal victory of the Edric Poitier era and the program's first CIAA Tournament win since 2008.

BSU finished the match with 40 kills, including 18 in a crucial second set that helped propel the Bulldogs to the upset over the Southern Division's top seed.

Bowie State set the tone early behind strong offensive swings from Nina Edwards and timely blocks from Madyson Brinson and Nicole Taylor. The Bulldogs capitalized on Rams miscues down the stretch to claim the opening set, 25-21.

In a back-and-forth second frame, Lyric Snowden and Mekenna Scott provided  key kills while the Bulldogs' front line forced Winston-Salem State into costly attack errors. A late kill from Taylor sealed a gritty 30-28 win and a 2-0 match advantage.

Scott opened the third set with a service ace as the Bulldogs continued to apply pressure. After trailing early, BSU rallied with a steady offensive push from Snowden, Edwards, and Brinson. A composed finish and additional Rams errors allowed Bowie State to close out the match, 25-22, securing the sweep.

Top Performers – Bowie State

Lyric Snowden

·        11 kills

·        8 digs

·        2 block assists

·        13.0 points

Mekenna Scott

·        20 assists

·        2 service aces

·        8 digs

Taylor Johnson

·        18 digs

·        2 assists

·        1 service ace

Nicole Taylor

·        10 kills

·        4 digs

·        1 solo block

·        11.5 points

Up Next
The Bulldogs return to the court Saturday with a trip to the CIAA Championship on the line, as BSU takes on Southern Division No. 3 seed Shaw University. First serve is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. inside A.C. Jordan Arena.

For the most up-to-date information on Bowie State Athletics and its 14 varsity sport teams, visit BSUBulldogs.com.