WILBERFORCE, OH – September 17, 2025 — Central State volleyball delivered a statement performance on Wednesday night, sweeping crosstown rival Wilberforce University in three sets at Beacom/Lewis Gym. With the win, the Marauders improved to 2-2 overall.
Set-by-Set Recap
Set One (25-13, CSU)
The Marauders wasted little time establishing control, hitting an outstanding .480 in the opening frame. Maya Hendricks and Braelynn Reese each tallied multiple kills during an early 8-2 run. Behind consistent serving from Brooke Morris and strong defense at the net, CSU closed the set convincingly, 25-13.
Set Two (25-20, CSU)
Wilberforce responded with its best set of the night, posting 9 kills, but CSU's balance proved too much. Zahra Coates powered two aces in the mid-set stretch, while Nevaeh Brownlee distributed efficiently with 4 assists. The Marauders held off a late Bulldog push to claim the set, 25-20.
Set Three (25-18, CSU)
In the decisive frame, CSU used aggressive serving and blocking to seal the sweep. Jasmin Churchill dominated at the net, recording 3 blocks and adding kills on quick sets in the middle. Johanna Holston steadied the back row with 6 digs in the set as CSU finished strong, 25-18.
Team Statistical Comparison
| Category |
Wilberforce |
Central State |
| Points |
25.0 |
48.0 |
| Kills |
21 |
32 |
| Aces |
2 |
13 |
| Blocks |
2 |
3 |
| Assists |
20 |
27 |
| Digs |
23 |
31 |
| Hitting % |
.041 |
.224 |
Marauder Leaders
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Kills: Hendricks (8), Reese (8), Coates (6)
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Aces: Morris (4), Coates (3), Hendricks (2)
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Blocks: Churchill (3), Hendricks (1), Brownlee (1)
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Assists: Morris (13), Brownlee (7), Holston (4)
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Digs: Holston (15), Coates (4), Brownlee (3)
Bulldog Leaders
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Kills: Griffin (7), Solis (7)
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Aces: Powell (1), Griffin (1)
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Blocks: Coleman (2), Powell (1), Franklin (1)
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Assists: McGhee (13), Johnson (7)
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Digs: Griffin (8), Sheppard (6)
Series History
With the win, Central State continues its dominance in the crosstown rivalry with Wilberforce. The Marauders have yet to loose a set vs Wilberforce in the two years of volleyball history for Wilberforce.
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CSU evens its record at 2-2 after a pair of early non-conference wins.
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The Marauders have shown offensive growth, improving their team hitting percentage to .224 against Wilberforce.
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Defensively, libero Johanna Holston continues to lead the back row, averaging double-digit digs per match.
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The balanced trio of Hendricks, Reese, and Coates has given CSU multiple scoring options at the net.
Up Next
The Marauders return home to Beacom/Lewis Gym on Saturday September 20th vs Talladega.
