NCCU wins third consecutive CIAA Volleyball Championship

November 4, 2006 

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. -- North Carolina Central University completed a tournament sweep by blanking Virginia Union University 3-0 (30-14, 30-26, 30-19) to capture its third consecutive CIAA Women's Volleyball Championship on Saturday (Nov. 4) inside Capel Arena in Fayetteville, N.C.

"It feels great," said first-year NCCU head coach Georgette Crawford-Crooks, the 2006 CIAA Volleyball Coach of the Year. "It is a great sense of accomplishment to continue the championship tradition.

This is a step in the right direction." NCCU junior outside hitter Shari Matthews, a native of Bridgetown, Barbados, led the way with 12 kills, 11 digs and nine service aces to earn the CIAA Tournament Most Valuable Player award. Matthews broke the NCAA Division II record for kills in a single season during Friday's semifinal victory, and now has 941 kills in her first year at NCCU.

"Shari is a champion," Crawford-Crooks said. "She really took the team on her shoulders and brought us here, while also pushing her teammates to work hard and improve their game. Shari battled injuries all season and never complained." NCCU junior middle hitter Rachel Walters (Diego Martin, Trinidad) also had a productive tournament, amassing 59 kills in five matches, including 11 kills in the title match. Senior setter Latoya Tate (Toronto, Canada) distributed 204 tournament assists, an average of 40.8 per match, with 35 helpers on Saturday.

Virginia Union (17-9) was paced by Gabriela Mokra with 14 kills and nine digs.

NCCU (32-12) will bring the most wins in school history (32) into the 2006 NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional Championship on Nov. 9-11.

The match-ups and tournament location will be announced Sunday (Nov. 5) at 10 p.m.

"Our goal from the beginning was to go all the way," said Crawford-Crooks about advancing to the NCAA regionals. "I told the team, 'Congratulations on winning the conference championship and for all of your hard work, but this is not where we are stopping.'" 

2006 CIAA Volleyball Champions North Carolina Central University

Short Box Score (Match)
N.C. Central vs Virginia Union (Nov 04, 2006 at Fayetteville, NC)

N.C. Central def. Virginia Union 30-14,30-26,30-19

N.C. Central (32-12) (Kills-aces-blocks) - MATTHEWS,Shari
12-9-2; WALTERS,Rachel 11-0-1; STENNETT,Naima 7-0-1; HAYES,Nadia
5-0-4; WRIGHT,Kai 5-2-2; TATE,Latoya 3-1-2; HILL,Shawanda 2-0-2;
LLOYD,Rachel 1-0-0; Totals 46-12-7.0. (Assists) - TATE,Latoya 35.
(Dig leaders) - LLOYD,Rachel 13; MATTHEWS,Shari 11; TATE,Latoya 10

Virginia Union (17-9) (Kills-aces-blocks) - MOKRA,Gabriela
14-1-1; DONALDSON,Evanique 7-0-2; CARLISLE,Porsche 4-0-2; SKACELOVA,
Radka 3-1-0; BLACK,Lorenza 2-0-1; VANAKOVA,Michaela 2-0-0; Totals
32-2-3.0. (Assists) - SKACELOVA, Radka 19. (Dig leaders) -
VANAKOVA,Michaela 11; DONALDSON,Evanique 10; MOKRA,Gabriela 9


Site: Fayetteville, NC (Capel Arena)
Date: Nov 04, 2006 Attend: 203 Time: 1:20
Referees: G.Papagori, K.Horne
CIAA Championship Game