BOWIE, Md. – The Bowie State women's volleyball team will return to Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) action Monday, Oct. 12, when the Bulldogs travel to Elizabeth City, N.C., to face Elizabeth City State University. First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m. inside the R.L. Vaughan Center as Bowie State looks to extend its momentum following a five-set road victory over Shaw University.
Bowie State enters Monday's matchup at 7-8 overall and 5-5 in CIAA play after defeating Shaw, 3-2, on Thursday, Oct. 8. The Bulldogs rallied after dropping the opening set and responded to a fourth-set setback by taking the deciding set, 15-10, to secure an important conference road victory. The matchup also marks the second meeting between Bowie State and Elizabeth City State this season, with the Lady Vikings earning a five-set win in the teams' first contest on Sept. 24.
When: Monday, Oct. 12 – 6 p.m.
Where: R.L. Vaughan Center – Elizabeth City, N.C.
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Bulldogs Carry Momentum Into Elizabeth City
Bowie State heads into Monday's contest following a resilient performance against Shaw. The Bulldogs won the second and third sets after dropping the opener, then regrouped in the fifth set to close out the match with a 15-10 victory. Bowie State finished with 49 kills, a .158 hitting percentage, 10 service aces and 10 total blocks.
The Bulldogs demonstrated their ability to produce points from multiple areas of the court, using timely attacking, aggressive serving and defensive pressure at the net to overcome Shaw. The victory improved Bowie State to 5-5 in CIAA play and provided valuable momentum heading into another conference road test.
Asomani-Martin Leads the Offensive Attack
Abena Asomani-Martin led the Bulldogs against Shaw with 14 kills and three service aces, finishing with 17 points to pace the offensive attack. Her production in both attacking and serving helped Bowie State generate scoring opportunities throughout the five-set contest.
Melisa Anacius also made a significant contribution, recording eight kills while hitting .429 and adding five total blocks. Setter
Gabrielle Hale directed the offense with 23 assists, seven digs, four kills and two blocks, while
Mil'lanni Marte anchored the back row with 15 digs and two service aces.
Bowie State will look to maintain that balanced effort against Elizabeth City State, relying on its offensive leaders and defensive presence to challenge the Lady Vikings on their home court.
Previous Meeting Sets the Stage for Rematch
The Bulldogs and Lady Vikings last met on Sept. 24 at A.C. Jordan Arena, where Elizabeth City State rallied from a two-set deficit to earn a 3-2 victory. Bowie State claimed the opening sets, 25-18 and 25-22, before the Lady Vikings responded to win the final three sets, including a 15-7 decision in the fifth.
Despite the loss, Bowie State finished with 52 kills and 12 total blocks. Asomani-Martin led the Bulldogs with 14 kills, while
Taylor Johnson added 12 kills and 14 digs. Hale distributed 29 assists, Marte recorded 17 digs and Anacius contributed five total blocks.
The previous meeting highlighted the competitive nature of the matchup and the importance of sustaining execution throughout all five sets. Bowie State will look to use that experience to its advantage as the Bulldogs pursue a different result in Monday's rematch.
Lady Vikings Present Another Conference Challenge
Elizabeth City State enters the rematch looking to defend its home court and build on the result of the first meeting. The Lady Vikings have demonstrated offensive production and defensive resilience throughout the season, making them a challenging opponent in CIAA competition.
In the teams' September matchup, Elizabeth City State recorded 64 kills, 54 assists and 69 digs. Jazzmyn Davis led the Lady Vikings with 16 kills, while Kendall Washington added 14 kills. Cameron Mitrovich recorded 25 assists and 22 digs, helping Elizabeth City State complete its comeback.
Bowie State will need to limit the Lady Vikings' attacking opportunities, maintain strong communication in the back row and capitalize on scoring chances to come away with a conference road victory.
Bulldogs Look to Continue Conference Progress
With another CIAA matchup ahead, Bowie State will aim to build on its victory over Shaw and continue progressing through the conference schedule. The Bulldogs have shown the ability to compete in extended matches, and Monday's contest presents another opportunity to demonstrate consistency on both sides of the net.
Strong serving, efficient attacking and disciplined defense will be key as Bowie State looks to reverse the result of its first meeting with Elizabeth City State and add another conference victory to its record.
Looking Ahead
Following Monday's matchup at Elizabeth City State, Bowie State will return home Tuesday, Oct. 13, to host Washington Adventist University at 6 p.m. inside A.C. Jordan Arena before heading to Petersburg, Va., for the second CIAA Round-Up of the season, scheduled for Oct. 16-18.
For the most up-to-date information on Bowie State Athletics and its 14 varsity sport teams, please visit BSUBulldogs.com and follow the Bulldogs on social media.
