ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. – The Elizabeth City State volleyball team is set for a busy weekend at the first CIAA Round-Up in Fayetteville, where the Vikings will face three conference opponents in two days. ECSU opens play Friday morning against Winston-Salem State before squaring off with Johnson C. Smith later that afternoon, and the Vikings will wrap up the event on Saturday with a matchup against Claflin.

Last Time Out for ECSU 
The Vikings put together a strong start but ultimately fell 3-1 to Bowie State at home on Sept. 29. The Vikings took the opening set 25-20 behind efficient hitting from Andrea Rose, who finished with a team-high 12 kills, but the Bulldogs responded to claim the next three frames. Sydnee White paced ECSU at the service line with four aces, while Serenity Lunnermon directed the attack with 26 assists. Defensively, Raven Bailey anchored the back row with 15 digs.

Scouting the Rams
Winston Salem State enters tonight's matchup at 4-7 overall and 1-1 in CIAA play, looking to bounce back from a narrow five-set loss to Shaw. The team has shown its ability to compete, highlighted by a five-set win over Fayetteville State in its conference opener.

By the Numbers
• Overall Record: 4-7
• Conference Record: 1-1
• Neutral Site Success: 3-3 away from home
• Home Matches: None yet this season

Key Players to Watch
• Ytae Cobb (OH, Sr.) – The team's offensive anchor with 221 kills (2.51/set), hitting at a strong .314 clip. Cobb also adds value at the net with 58 total blocks.
• Miranda Taylor (OH, Jr.) – A high-volume attacker with 152 kills (1.97/set) and 149 digs, giving her a balanced two-way impact.
• Tailar Jackson (OH, So.) – Another reliable scorer, posting 158 kills (1.80/set) and contributing on defense with 237 digs and 25 blocks.
• Niyonna McIntyre (MB, Sr.) – A frontline force, tallying 131 kills with a .299 hitting percentage and leading the team with 77 total blocks (0.86/set).
• Rylee Wilson (S, Jr.) – The floor general with 752 assists (8.36/set), setting up the offense while also contributing 40 blocks and 134 digs.
• Myra Wallace (L, Sr.) – Defensive anchor, leading the team with 333 digs (3.70/set) to stabilize the back row.

Team Trends
• Offensively, the squad averages 11.3 kills per set, led by a balanced trio of Cobb, Taylor, and Jackson.
• Defensively, they block well at the net with 172 team blocks (1.91/set), ranking among the strengths of their system.
• Service pressure is a key factor: the team has 176 aces, averaging nearly 2 per set.

Scouting Johnson C. Smith 
The Golden Bulls enter at 1-5 overall (0-2 CIAA) and are seeking to snap a four-match losing skid. Their lone victory came in a five-set battle against Clark Atlanta, but they've since dropped back-to-back CIAA matches against Shaw and Claflin.

By the Numbers
• Overall Record: 1-5
• Conference Record: 0-2
• Home: 1-1 | Away: 0-3 | Neutral: 0-1
• Hitting Percentage: .093 (opponents hitting .273)
• Kills per Set: 8.7
• Aces: 46 (2.4/set)
• Blocks: 16 (0.8/set)

Players to Watch
• Malayshia Bradley (MB, Fr.) – Leads the Golden Bulls' front line with 27 kills and a team-best 29.5 points, while hitting .141.
• Rylea Ross (OH, Fr.) – Adds balance with 19 kills, a .233 hitting percentage, and 22.5 total points.
• Kailyn Hitch (OH, So.) – The team's top all-around contributor, producing 31 kills, 31 digs, and 7 aces to lead JCSU in scoring with 38 points.
• Lapri Cromer (OH, Jr.) – Provides experience on the outside, totaling 23 digs and 24 points.
• Yasmine Cannon (S, Sr.) – Runs the offense with 74 assists (3.9/set) and also leads the team from the service line with 13 aces.
• Marci Murrell (DS, So.) – Defensive leader with 50 digs, giving the Golden Bulls stability in the back row.

Team Trends
• JCSU's offense is still developing, with freshmen accounting for most of the production.
• Serve pressure is a strength — the Golden Bulls average nearly 2.5 aces per set, led by Cannon's 13.
• Passing and consistency remain an issue, as opponents are outhitting JCSU .273 to .093.
• Defense is spread across the roster, but Murrell and Hitch are the most reliable back-row options.

Scouting Claflin
The Lady Panthers are 1-8 overall (1-1 CIAA) and are coming off their first win of the year, a 3-1 victory at Johnson C. Smith. That snapped an eight-match losing skid to open the season. Despite the rough start, Claflin has shown signs of improvement with three matches decided in five sets.

By the Numbers
• Overall Record: 1-8
• Conference Record: 1-1
• Home: 0-5 | Away: 1-3 | Neutral: 0-0
• Hitting Percentage: .113 (opponents hitting .162)
• Kills per Set: 9.3
• Aces: 73 (2.1/set)
• Blocks: 40.0 (1.1/set)

Players to Watch
• Aryanna Connell (OH, Fr.) – Leads the offense with 95 kills (2.7/set) while hitting .237; also adds 53 digs and 8 aces.
• Zaniya Harris (OH, Fr.) – Nearly matches Connell's production with 98 kills (2.8/set), 38 digs, and 9 aces.
• Siri Davis (S, Sr.) – Veteran setter with 151 assists, 19 aces, and 39.5 points, giving her a strong all-around impact.
• Anaya Wofford (MH, So.) – Physical at the net with 32 blocks (1.0/set) and 46.0 points overall.
• Jamila Lewis (MB, Fr.) – Adds depth in the middle with 31 kills and 37.0 points.
• Abigail Watts (DS, Fr.) – Leads the back row with 99 digs (2.8/set), while also chipping in 19 aces.

Team Trends
• The Panthers lean heavily on two freshmen pin hitters (Connell & Harris), who have combined for nearly 60% of the team's kills.
• Serving is a weapon — four players have at least 7 aces, led by Davis (19) and Watts (19).
• Defense is still developing, with opponents averaging 10.6 kills/set against them.
• Their lone win (3-1 at JCSU) showed balance, with both freshmen outsides in double-digit kills.

Up Next for ECSU
ECSU turns its attention to the road, traveling to Oxford, Pennsylvania, to face Lincoln (Pa.) on Thursday night. The match will be played at Oxford Area High School, with first serve scheduled for 7:30 p.m.