BOWIE, Md. – Bowie State lost to Virginia State 3-1 on Monday inside A.C. Jordan Arena, with set scores of 21-25, 25-19, 20-25 and 20-25 in its Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) and home opener. The Bulldogs (2-5, 0-1 CIAA) went from a 5-4 deficit to a 9-6 lead in the second set and took that frame, but Virginia State (3-7, 2-0 CIAA) won the final two sets. BSU finished with 35 kills, 56 digs, eight total blocks and a .034 hitting percentage.
With the loss, the Bulldogs stands 2-4 overall and 0-1 in CIAA play while Virginia State improves to 4-7 overall and 2-0 in CIAA action.
Bowie State started the opening set with a Virginia State setting error and a Gabrielle Hale ace for a 2-0 lead, but VSU answered with five straight points to move in front 5-2. The Bulldogs pulled even at 8-8 on a Melisa Anacius block and later went ahead 13-12 after Taylor Johnson's ace tied the set at 12-12 and Abena Asomani-Martin followed with a block. Virginia State tied the set at 14-14, and Peyton Reese served five straight points, including an ace and a Gracie Darville kill, to give the visitors a 19-14 lead. BSU cut the gap to 22-20 with kills from Johnson and Payton Swinton during a three-point push, but Virginia State took three of the final four points and closed the set 25-21 on Isabella Parra's ace.
A Virginia State service error put Bracey Gross at the line with the Bulldogs down 5-4, and the home side scored four more points from there, including two Swinton kills and a Gross service ace, to move ahead 8-5. Virginia State tied the set at 9-9 and again at 13-13, but a block by Hale and Jy'Asha Cousins put BSU back in front before Hale served five straight points, with Cousins adding consecutive kills, to make it 19-13. Virginia State cut the gap to 19-17, but Cousins answered with two more kills as the Bulldogs rebuilt a 21-17 edge. Gross added another ace and Anacius put down a kill late before BSU closed the set on a Virginia State attack error for a 25-19 win.
After the teams traded points to 4-4, Virginia State moved ahead with a six-point stretch that included kills by Wynter Hill and Gracie Darville and multiple BSU attack errors for a 10-4 lead. The Bulldogs cut the deficit to 11-9 behind kills from Spring Terry, Anacius and Madyson Brinson. Virginia State pushed back to 18-14, but BSU answered with a Cousins kill, a Swinton kill and two VSU attack errors to tie the set at 18-18. Virginia State took the next two points, stayed in front through brief exchanges and scored the final four points, including a Kellee Craig service ace, to take the set 25-20.
The Bulldogs opened the fourth set with Asomani-Martin's kill from Mil'lanni Marte and a Virginia State error for a 2-0 lead, but VSU answered with four straight points, including Rayne Peavy's kill, to move ahead 4-2. BSU worked back within one twice, at 8-7 after a Virginia State attack error and at 9-8 on Anacius' kill from Trinity Loundmon, then got to 12-11 when Johnson blocked Wynter Hill. After Asomani-Martin's kill made it 14-12, Virginia State took the next five points, with Darville's kill followed by four Bulldogs errors, to build a 19-12 lead. BSU later cut a 24-17 deficit to 24-20 on Cousins' kill, a Virginia State attack error and Hale's service ace, but Virginia State finished the set 25-20 on a Bulldogs attack error.
Across the match, the Bulldogs finished with 35 kills on 148 attacks while hitting .034, while Virginia St. had 40 kills on a .076 hitting percentage. Virginia State held a 73-56 advantage in digs, and the teams were close at the net with VSU totaling nine blocks and BSU eight. Cousins had eight kills, three solo blocks and 11.5 points for the Bulldogs, while Anacius added seven kills on .462 hitting with two solo blocks.
Darville finished with 16 kills to lead the Trojans , 14 digs, four total blocks and a team-high 19.5 points. Kellee Craig recorded a team-high 16 digs and added two service aces. Anya McKinley posted five total blocks, including two solo blocks, and added six kills. Reese tallied a team-high 15 assists, 12 digs and two service aces.
The Bulldogs were led by Cousins who had eight kills, 11.5 points and four blocks. Anacius added seven kills while hitting .462 and recorded two solo blocks. Hale finished with a team-high 18 assists, two service aces and eight digs. Asomani-Martin collected a team-high 11 digs to go with six kills and a solo block.
Up next, the Bulldogs host Elizabeth City State University on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, at 6 p.m. at A.C. Jordan Arena in Bowie, Md.
For the most up-to-date information on Bowie State Athletics and its 14 varsity sport teams, please visit bsubulldogs.com.
