RICHMOND, Va. — Bowie State (12-13, 9-9 CIAA) defeated Virginia Union (9-17, 6-13 CIAA) 3-0 on Monday in women's volleyball action Monday night from Barco-Stevens Hall. BSU finished with 38 kills and a .315 hitting percentage while limiting Virginia Union to 28 kills and a .068 mark.
The Bulldogs scored the first four points of the opening set, getting kills from Melisa Anacius and Madyson Brinson around two Virginia Union attack errors. After VUU got on the board, Abena Asomani-Martin added a kill and Spring Terry served an ace as BSU pushed the lead to 7-1, then stayed in front through the middle of the set at 15-8. The Bulldogs broke the set open from there, taking eight straight points to reach 23-8 behind Terry's serving, a Payton Swinton kill, an Anacius kill, an Asomani-Martin kill and a block by Asomani-Martin and Anacius. Virginia Union put together a late stretch after BSU reached set point, but Asomani-Martin finished the set with a kill from Gabrielle Hale for a 25-14 win.
Hale served consecutive aces to put the Bulldogs ahead 3-1 in the second set, and BSU later stretched the margin to 11-4 behind a Swinton ace and two Anacius kills. Virginia Union cut into the gap late with kills by Alana Simmons and Madison Hill and blocks involving Layla Gray, pulling within 21-19 before the Bulldogs took a timeout. Madison James answered with a kill, Hale followed with two more service aces, and a Virginia Union attack error finished BSU's 25-19 set win.
BSU took control of the third set immediately, getting an Asomani-Martin kill from Hale before Hale served six straight points that included two Swinton kills, an Amara Pope kill and three VUU attack errors for a 7-0 lead. Virginia Union broke through on a Madison Hill kill, but the Bulldogs kept the margin wide with Swinton, Anacius and Asomani-Martin adding points as BSU moved ahead 15-4. Virginia Union put together a short push to make it 16-8, including a Maria Pena ace, before Hale's ace and a Virginia Union attack error helped the Bulldogs restore a 19-8 advantage. Late kills from James, Jasmine Brewer and Damani Myers kept BSU in front, and after a Virginia Union service error brought up set point, Myers closed the 25-14 set with a service ace.
Asomani-Martin tallied nine kills, seven digs and 10.5 points while hitting .450. Anacius recorded nine kills on 10 attacks, hit .900 and added two block assists. Hale finished with 20 assists and five service aces, adding four digs. Terry collected eight digs and served two aces.
Up next, the Bulldogs host Lincoln (PA) University for their pink out game, on Tuesday, Oct. 27, at 6 p.m. at A.C. Jordan Arena in Bowie, Md.
