CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Bowie State University women's volleyball team has been selected to finish sixth, as the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) released the 2025 Preseason Poll Monday.
Junior middle blocker Nina Edwards and graduate outside hitter Nicole Taylor were named to the All-CIAA preseason team.
Edwards, a native of Matthews, N.C., earned her second straight All-CIAA first-team selection after leading the Bulldogs in kills (229), points (287.5) and blocks (85). She ranked 10th in the league in kills and fifth in blocks. Edwards had a season-high 14 kills and 18 points against Livingstone, along with a season-best six blocks in the same match. She posted six double-figure kill performances and recorded at least three blocks in 13 matches.
Taylor, a Bowie, Md., native, was also an All-CIAA first team pick in 2024 after finishing second on the team in kills (186) and blocks (55). She added 71 digs and eight assists across 94 sets. Her season highs included 16 kills and 18.5 points against Virginia Union, eight digs against Bloomsburg, and four blocks against Elizabeth City State. Taylor recorded three matches with double-digit kills, 18 matches with at least five kills, six with four or more digs and nine with at least three blocks.
Six returners from the 2024 All-CIAA team were named to this year's preseason list, led by Fayetteville State with three selections. Bowie State and Winston-Salem State each had two, while Virginia State, Bluefield State, Virginia Union, Shaw and Livingstone had one apiece.
The Lady Broncos were picked as the preseason favorite after falling to Shaw in last year's CIAA championship match. The Broncos last won the title in 2021, sweeping Shaw 3-0 in Bowie, Md.
The Bulldogs will open the season at the CIAA/MEC/PSAC Challenge, hosted by Virginia State in Ettrick, Va., from Friday, Sept. 5 through Saturday, Sept. 6.
2025 CIAA Volleyball Predicted Order of Finish
- Fayetteville State University
- Shaw University
- Virginia State University
- Winston-Salem State University
- Bluefield State University
- Bowie State University
- Elizabeth City State University
- Livingstone College
- Johnson C. Smith University
- Virginia Union University
- Claflin University
- Lincoln University (PA)
2025 Preseason All-CIAA Volleyball Team
Libero
Jasmine Culp, Fayetteville State
Middle Hitter/Blocker
Nina Edwards, Bowie State
Amihan Johnson, Fayetteville State
Zoe Chesson, Winston-Salem State
Outside Hitter
Alana Simmons, Virginia Union
Gracie Darville, Virginia State
Malani Martin, Winston-Salem State
Right Side Hitter
Nicole Taylor, Bowie State
Khamare Steppe, Shaw
Setter
Gabby Hale, Bluefield State
Chiara Vittoni, Fayetteville State
Utility
Love Riley, Livingstone
For the latest news on Bowie State Athletics and its 14 varsity sports, visit bsubulldogs.com.
