PETERSBURG, Va. — Bowie State (13-15, 10-11 CIAA) lost to Virginia State (20-10, 18-3 CIAA) 3-1 on Thursday at Multipurpose Center in the Bulldogs' regular-season finale. BSU took the third set but fell by set scores of 23-25, 22-25, 25-23, 17-25.
Virginia State moved ahead 5-2 during the opening set, the Bulldogs worked from behind featuring kills from Melisa Anacius and Payton Swinton and three VSU attack errors to go in front 7-6. The teams traded swings through the middle of the set, with BSU pulling even at 12-12 and later using a block by Jy'Asha Cousins and Gabrielle Hale, an Abena Asomani-Martin kill and a Swinton service ace during Swinton's service run to build a 20-16 lead. The Trojans responded with eight straight points, including two Adrianna Bacon service aces and two De'Mya Robinson kills, and although the Bulldogs cut the margin to 24-23, Gracie Darville finished the set with a kill for a 25-23 Virginia State win.
The second set stayed tight through 7-7 before Bracey Gross served an ace and a Virginia State attack error put BSU ahead 9-7, with Asomani-Martin later adding a kill for a 12-10 edge. VSU moved from a 14-14 tie to a 17-14 lead on a Bulldogs service error, a block by Rayne Peavy and Robinson, and a Darville ace, then reached 21-16 on Peyton Reese's ace. BSU pushed back with a Hale kill, an Anacius-Swinton block, a Swinton kill and an Anacius block to get within 22-21. The Trojans answered with a Wynter Hill kill, and after a service error brought the Bulldogs within 23-22, Darville delivered kills for the final two points to give Virginia State the set, 25-22.
Taylor Johnson's kill and two Anacius blocks helped the Bulldogs turn an early 2-0 deficit into a 3-2 lead in the third set. After the score reached 5-5, BSU pushed ahead 11-6 behind a Dyllan Chandler kill, a Spring Terry kill and an Asomani-Martin service ace. Virginia State worked back to tie the set at 15-15, moved in front 18-16 and later led 20-18 before Johnson's kill and a Mil'lanni Marte ace pulled the Bulldogs even at 20-20. BSU went back ahead 24-22 on a VSU service error and attack error, and after the Trojans took the next point, Chandler finished the set with a kill for a 25-23 win.
Anacius opened the fourth set with a kill from Hale, but Virginia State answered behind kills from Noa Roberts, Hill and Darville to move ahead 4-1, and Darville later served two aces during a stretch that pushed the score to 12-5. The Bulldogs worked back into the set with kills by Johnson, Swinton and Anacius, then Swinton added another kill before Hale's ace and a Chandler-Anacius block brought BSU within 14-12. VSU stopped the push with kills by Hill and Darville and kept the margin from getting closer, closing the set with the final three points for a 25-17 result.
Swinton led the Bulldogs with 14 kills and 16.0 points, adding six digs and two blocks. Anacius recorded seven total blocks and added six kills for 11.5 points. Hale finished with 25 assists, four digs and one service ace. Marte collected a team-high 15 digs and added one service ace.
Up next, the Bulldogs turn their attention to the CIAA Championships in Rocky Mount, N.C., with official tournament seeding set to be announced Friday, November 6.
For the most up-to-date information on Bowie State Athletics and its 14 varsity sport teams, please visit bsubulldogs.com.
