BOWIE, MD — The Bowie State women's volleyball remarkable postseason run came to a close Friday evening, as the Bulldogs fell in a hard-fought five-set semifinal matchup to the defending CIAA champions, Shaw University inside A.C. Jordan Arena. BSU battled until the final point but ultimately came up short with set scores of 21-25, 25-9, 25-23, 17-25, 7-15.

The Bulldogs opened the match energized, jumping ahead early thanks to strong defensive presence at the net and offensive contributions from multiple hitters. Bowie State kept the first set tight before Shaw was able to pull away late for the 1-0 advantage.

BSU responded with a dominant second set, controlling momentum from start to finish. A balanced attack paired with aggressive serving, including a pair of aces from Lyric Snowden propelled the Bulldogs to a commanding 25-9 win to even the match.

Bowie State carried that momentum into the third set, surging ahead 11-3. Shaw pushed back to tie the score late, but the Bulldogs remained resilient. Key kills from Snowden, Nadira Avery, and Nina Edwards powered BSU to a pivotal 25-23 victory and a 2-1 match lead.

Shaw answered in the fourth set, capitalizing on timely runs to force the deciding frame. Despite late efforts from the Bulldogs, the Bears secured the set 25-17 to even the match once again.

In the fifth, Bowie State battled to regain the edge but Shaw found gaps offensively and limited BSU's chances to rally. Snowden's late kills helped trim the deficit, yet Shaw closed the match 15-7.

Bulldogs Top Performers

Lyric Snowden
• 9 kills • 4 aces • 12 digs • 14 points

Nadira Avery
• 7 kills (.545) • 5 blocks • 10 points

Mekenna Scott
• 17 assists • 4 digs

Taylor Johnson
• 3 aces • 9 digs

The Bulldogs close the season having reestablished themselves as one of the CIAA's top contenders. Though their pursuit of a championship appearance came to an end in the semifinals, Bowie State showcased impressive grit and growth throughout the tournament, advancing to the CIAA Semifinals for the first time since 2008. With a strong core returning and a postseason breakthrough now under their belts, BSU looks ahead with confidence.
 
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