Box Score PETERSBURG, VA- The Chowan University volleyball team picked up a critical CIAA Northern Division win with a 3-1 road victory over Virginia State University on Thursday evening.  The Hawks improve to 11-7 overall and 8-2 in CIAA play with the victory.  The Trojans drop to 10-6 on the year and 7-3 in league play with the setback.  Chowan's road win over Virginia State was the first for the Hawks since the 2012 season. 

Chowan opened the match with a 25-15 win over Virginia State in set one before dropping a narrow 27-25 decision to the Trojans in set two.  The Hawks regrouped to take 25-17 and 25-20 victories in sets three and four, respectively. 

Suraya Chase paced the Hawks with nine kills in the win.  Morgan Spencer followed with eight kills.  Caitlin Turner handed out 20 assists for Chowan while Makayla Castro recorded 15 digs.  Bailey Zavala chipped in 14 digs in the victory. 

Sydney Uko tallied a match-high 11 kills while Alexys Pullen and Tiara Ramey each recorded 10 kills for Virginia State in the setback.  Pullen notched 13 assists while Adriana Hazou hauled in 27 digs. 

The Trojans jumped to a 4-1 lead at the start of the opening set.  Chowan stormed back for a 14-6 run to take a commanding 18-7 advantage.   The Hawks maintained the momentum and lead for the remainder of the opening set and secured the 25-15 win on a kill by Turner.

After trailing 5-1 early in set two, the Hawks battled from the deficit to pull away 16-10.  Chowan held a 19-15 advantage down the final stretch of the second set, but a kill by Uko and four Hawk errors allowed the Trojans to take a narrow 20-19 edge.  Chowan responded with a 4-1 run to pull away 23-21, but the Trojans answered back with three consecutive points of their own for a 24-23 advantage.  A Trojan service error on the next play knotted the score 24-24.  With the score tied 25-25, a Chowan service error followed by a kill by Uko secured the 27-25 set two win for Virginia State. 

With the score tied 7-7 in set three, the Hawks raced to a 6-2 run to take a 13-9 lead.  Virginia State pulled within one point (13-12) before Chowan took over the momentum for good.  After a 3-0 run, the Hawks maintained control of the momentum for the remainder of the set and secured the 25-17 win with a kill by Sydney Miller. 

Chowan and Virginia State battled down the opening stretch of set four.  With the score tied 8-8, a 4-0 run by Chowan left the Trojans trailing 12-8.  Virignia State was unable to regain the momentum, or the lead, and the Hawks closed out the 25-20 win with a kill by Spencer.

The Hawks return to action on October 13th as Chowan travels to compete against Elizabeth City State.  First serve for the CIAA Northern Division contest is slated for 6pm.