ETTRICK, VA — The Bowie State women's volleyball team (0-2, 0-0 CIAA) opened its 2025 season Friday at the VSU Opening Weekend Invitational, dropping a pair of matches to Shepherd (1-0, 0-0 PSAC) and Pitt-Johnstown (2-0, 0-0 PSAC) inside the VSU Multipurpose Center in Ettrick, Va.
The Bulldogs fell in straight sets to Shepherd (25-17, 25-11, 27-25) before closing the night with a 3-0 setback against Pitt-Johnstown (25-12, 25-17, 25-19).
GAME ONE | Shepherd, 3 - Bowie State, 0
After struggling to find rhythm in the first two frames, Bowie State bounced back in set three, battling through 13 ties and five lead changes before narrowly falling 27-25 to the Rams.
SET 1 | Bowie State came out strong, taking a 6-2 lead behind two service aces from Taylor Johnson and a kill from Abena Asomani-Martin, but Shepherd regrouped and used a late run to pull away for a 25-17 win.
SET 2 | The Rams controlled much of the second frame, building separation with strong serving. Despite kills from Nicole Taylor, Nina Edwards, and Madyson Brinson, BSU fell 25-11.
SET 3 | The Bulldogs showed fight in the final set, racing out to an early lead with a kill from Brinson and a service ace by Trinity Loundmon. The teams traded points down the stretch, but Shepherd edged BSU in a 27-25 thriller to close the match.
Top Performers vs. Shepherd
GAME TWO | Pitt-Johnstown, 3 - Bowie State, 0
The Bulldogs started fast in sets two and three, but couldn't hold off late rallies from the Mountain Cats.
SET 1 | Bowie State kept things close early with kills from Iman Wright and Taylor, but Pitt-Johnstown used a big run midway through to pull away for a 25-12 win.
SET 2 | The Bulldogs jumped out to a 4-0 start behind an ace from Gabriella High and a kill from Brinson, but the Mountain Cats rallied and held on for a 25-17 victory despite another strong push from Brinson late in the set.
SET 3 | BSU battled tough, pulling even at 13-13 thanks to kills from Brinson, Edwards, and Johnson, but Pitt-Johnstown closed strong to take the final set 25-19.
Top Performers vs. Pitt-Johnstown
Up Next
Looking ahead, the Bulldogs continue play on day two of the VSU Opening Weekend Invitational, taking on Concord at 9 a.m. before closing out the weekend against Bloomsburg at 3 p.m.
