Livingstone-Virginia State Box Score
Livingstone-Bowie State Box Score
Livingstone-Lincoln Box Score

HAMPTON, VA – The Livingstone Blue Bear volleyball team swept their three matches Saturday at the CIAA-Round-Up.  With the three wins, the Blue Bears improved to 7-0 on the season.

In the first match of the day the Blue Bears defeated the Virginia State Trojans 3-1 (25-18, 25-18, 19-25, 25-20).  Livingstone was led offensively sophomore middle hitter Michelle Thompson who finished with 13 kills.  Also in double-digit kills was junior offensive specialist Lashaundra Ferguson.

The first 14 points of the match were tight and the two teams remained deadlocked, but Livingstone broke out to take the next four points to go up 11-7.  The small four-point lead quickly became an eight-point lead at 18-10.  The Blue Bears held onto the large lead and took game one 25-18.

Livingstone in the second game took an early lead, but the Trojans battled back.  Livingstone led by six at 9-3, but VSU got within three 13-10 before the Blue Bears were able to open up an eight-point lead at 19-11 and held on to take the second game 25-18.

The Trojans were not ready to finish the match after three games as they took a 9-9 tie and then took nine of the next 11 points to take an 18-11 edge.  Livingstone was unable to mount a comeback and Virginia State took the third game 25-19.

The match was poised to go a fifth game as Virginia State came out and controlled the early part of the fourth game.  The Trojans led 15-11 and continued to lead at 18-16.  The Blue Bears battled back to square the game at 19-19 and then took four straight points to go up 23-19.  The Blue Bears held on to take the fourth set 25-20 and the match 3-1.

The Blue Bears had 37 kills for the match with a .279 hitting percentage, 32 assists and 26 digs.

Livingstone defeated the Bowie State Bulldogs 3-0 (25-16, 25-21, 25-16) in their second match of the day.

The first 18 points of the first game were hotly contested as the two teams remained all square.  With the score tied at nine, Livingstone took six-straight points to go up 15-9 and never looked back.  The Blue Bears took the first game 25-16.

The second game was tight throughout with neither team able to gain an edge.  The teams were tied at 17-17 before Livingstone took three-straight to go up 20-17 and held on to take the second game 25-21.

The Blue Bears left nothing to chance in the third game as they led from the first point to the last, taking it 25-16 and the match 3-0.

Freshman middle hitter Lakitta Hicks led the Blue Bears with nine kills.  Livingstone as a team totaled 32 kills, with a .273 hitting percentage including a game three percentage of .524.  They also totaled 38 digs and four team blocks.

The Blue Bears continued their dominance of the CIAA Eastern Division as they defeated the Lincoln Lions 3-0 (25-21, 25-17, 25-21).

The first game was a battle between the Blue Bears and Lions as neither of the teams were able to build more than a two-point advantage through the first 40 points.  Livingstone led by two at 21-19, but Lincoln took the next point to put the game at 21-20.  The Blue Bears held strong, however, and took four of the last five points to take the first game 25-21.

Lincoln matched the Blue Bears point for point to start the second game and the score was tied at 10 after the first 20 points.  The Lions went up 12-10, but Livingstone was able to fight back and take a 13-12 lead and never relinquished it.  Livingstone took eight of the last nine points and took the second game 25-17.

Livingstone had a much easier go at it in the third game as they went up early 5-1 and held their largest lead at 24-17.  With only one point separating the Blue Bears from a match victory, the Lions tried to make it interesting, taking four-straight points before the Blue Bears were able to finish off the match.  Livingstone took the third game 25-21 and the match 3-0.

Ferguson led the Blue Bears with 12 kills while Thompson added 11 to help the Blue Bears.  As a team the Blue Bears had 27 kills and 30 digs.

The CIAA Round-Up will continue Sunday for the Blue Bears as they will play Elizabeth State at 11 a.m. and St. Paul's at 1 p.m.