BOWIE, MD — No. 2 seed Fayetteville State University defeated the No. 1 seed Shaw University, 3-0 (25-16, 27-25, 25-23), to win the 2021 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Volleyball Championship on Sunday at Bowie State University’s A.C. Jordan Arena in Bowie, MD.
The Broncos (23-6), who won their second straight CIAA title, were led in the championship match by Kalee Vanderhorst with a team-high nine kills along with Casandra Watson six kills and 13 digs and Da’Nesha Miller with six kills, 15 assists, and seven digs. Watson and Miller were named to the All-Tournament team for their efforts.
FSU’s Jaida Bynum also contributed 18 assists while defensive specialist Jasmine Jacinto totaled a match-high 19 digs. Both players were named to the All-Tournament team
Shaw got a double-double from CIAA Setter of the Year Breelyn Clark match-high 28 assists and 10 digs along with a match-high 12 kills from Noelani Beard and seven kills from Kamille Patrick. Clark and Patrick were also named to the All-Tournament team
The Lady Bears, who made their sixth-consecutive appearance in the CIAA championship match, finish the season with an 18-6 record.
Joining Watson, Miller, Jacinto, Bynum, Clark, and Patrick on the All-Tournament team were Virginia State’s Jodorrian Taylor, Claflin’s Simone Newell, and Elizabeth City State’s Aasia McNeill.
Miller once again displayed an all-around game throughout the tournament for the Broncos with 31 kills, 40 assists, 21 digs, and nine total blocks in three matches, averaging a double-double in kills and assists. The senior from Hilton Head Island, SC was named the Food Lion Tournament Most Valuable Player for the second straight time, as voted on by the tournament committee and head coaches.
Fayetteville State receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Division II Atlantic Region Tournament, which will start December 2 at a location yet to be determined. The Broncos will learn their opponent and seed when the 64-team field is announced during the NCAA Division II Selection Show, which is set to air Monday, Nov. 22 at 7:30 p.m. ET.
2021 CIAA Volleyball All-Tournament Team
Jodorrian Taylor, Virginia State University
Simone Newell, Claflin University
Aasia McNeill, Elizabeth City State University
Breelyn Clark, Shaw University
Kamille Patrick, Shaw University
Casandra Watson, Fayetteville State University
Jaida Bynum, Fayetteville State University
Jasmine Jacinto, Fayetteville State University
Da’Nesha Miller, Fayetteville State University – Food Lion Tournament MVP