Shaw VOLLEYBALL LOSES TO LIVINGSTONE  

October 25, 2007 – Raleigh, NC – The CIAA’s second best team in kills (610, average of 11.09 per game), the Shaw University Lady Bears participated in head-to-head competition with the CIAA’s second best team in blocks (149.5, average of 1.99 per game), the Lady Blue Bears of Livingstone College. The Lady Bears’ charge of victory was short circuited after the first match. Livingstone lingered away with the win 3 – 1.
 

The Lady Bears jumped out at the start of the first match with two consecutive scores for their first lead. However, Livingstone leaped back with a scoring streak of their own to birth a lead of 6 – 3. The Lady Bears cleverly clawed back to re-take the lead 9 – 7. Shaw forced their opponents to take their first timeout after their persistent push for positive progress resulted in a seven point lead (16 – 9 Shaw). The Lady Bears maintained momentum throughout the remainder of the match for a 30 – 21 victory.
 

Seconds prior to the start of match two, Lady Bear supporters arose with a standing  ovation in regards to a happy birthday honor to freshman Biology major, #3 Marquita Wilson.  Shaw kept their engines running from their previous win to motor to a quick lead of 3 – 0. Livingstone tip-toed to be within one (8 – 7 Shaw), but the Lady Bears pulled away to be out in front 13 – 8. After a sixty second breather, the Lady Blue Bears bullied their way back to be within three points, 20 – 17 Shaw. Lady Bear fans pulled their coats over their head and peeked through a small opening when a volleyed return by Livingstone significantly snipped Shaw’s lead to just one point, 21 – 20. Intensity was magnified when the game was knotted 27 – 27 and then again at 29 – 29. Unfortunately, the visitor’s scored the final two points to win 31 – 29.  
 

Both western division teams plummeted nose first in match three’s pool of competition. They athletically battled to tie the game on four separate occasions before Livingstone leaped to a lead of 23 – 18. Shaw stormed back to trail by three, 25 – 22 Livingstone. The Lady Bears minimized Livingstone’s point margin to one point, 29 – 28, but the Lady Blue Bears slid away to win match three 30 – 28.
 

Shaw entered match four with a firm focus to even the win count. However, Livingstone looked to do otherwise as they built a considerable lead margin for a majority of the game. Obviously down, but certainly not out, Shaw scorched the Lady Blue Bears with thunderous spikes to be within two, 20 – 18 Livingstone. Then, after a timeout, Shaw strategically and skillfully played to be positioned ahead 25 – 23. Nevertheless, Livingstone worked their way back into the fold to collect the final win 30 – 27.
 

Pioneering the Lady Bears was #1 Sharetta Riggins (Middle Hitter / Junior / Kinesiotherapy) as she totaled a game high 22 kills, a team high 15 defensive digs, and a game high two blocking assists. As usual, the game’s premier setter was none other than #8 Cheryl Salter (Setter / Senior / Biology) as she totaled a game high 44 set assists; compared to the team’s total of 48 set assists and the opponent’s team total of 33 set assists.