Frankfort, KY – Central State University volleyball put together a strong weekend at the SIAC West Cluster hosted at Kentucky State, earning two key victories over Miles and Tuskegee while falling to league-leader Spring Hill. The Marauders now sit at 6-6 overall and 3-4 in SIAC play.

Marauders Open with Win Over Miles (10/3)

Central State opened the cluster with a hard-fought 3–1 win over Miles College (25-17, 25-15, 23-25, 25-21).

The Marauders came out sharp, hitting .625 as a team in the opening set and riding that momentum to take the first two frames. After dropping the third set narrowly, CSU regrouped and closed the match strong in the fourth.

Three Marauders finished with double-digit kills: Nia McGhee (14), Maya Hendricks (13), and Braelynn Reese (13). The balanced attack was fueled by setter Brooke Morris, who dished out 27 assists while also contributing 14 digs. Johanna Holston anchored the defense with 18 digs, while also serving a team-high four aces.

The victory gave Central State its second SIAC win of the season and showcased the team's offensive depth.

Spring Hill Stays Unbeaten in Conference (10/4 Morning Match)

In their first Saturday contest, Central State ran into perennial SIAC power Spring Hill, falling in straight sets (15-25, 18-25, 17-25).

The Marauders couldn't find their rhythm against the undefeated Badgers (8-0 SIAC), hitting just .091 as a team. Despite the loss, CSU had bright spots with Hendricks (7 kills), Reese (6 kills), and Zahra Coates (6 kills) leading the offense. Morris added 15 assists, and Holston tallied six digs to lead the defense.

Spring Hill controlled the net with 31 kills and five aces, extending their conference win streak and proving why they remain the top programs in the SIAC.

Five-Set Thriller Over Tuskegee (10/4 – Afternoon Match)

The Marauders bounced back in dramatic fashion later that day, outlasting Tuskegee in a five-set battle (25-17, 16-25, 25-22, 23-25, 15-10).

Behind Maya Hendricks' 17 kills and 17 digs, CSU delivered its most balanced performance of the weekend. Reese and Coates added 10 kills apiece, while the trio of Morris, Azariah Crosby, and Nevaeh Brownlee combined for 49 assists. From the service line, Morris fired four aces, and Brownlee chipped in three.

Defensively, Central State edged Tuskegee in digs (53-53 tie officially, with CSU limiting errors late), and Jasmin Churchill made key blocks to slow down the Golden Tigers' attack.

In the decisive fifth set, the Marauders hit .294, closing out Tuskegee with clutch swings and steady defense to secure their second win of the weekend.

Weekend Takeaways

• Depth at the Net: Hendricks, Reese, McGhee, and Coates all had standout performances at different points of the weekend, giving CSU multiple offensive weapons.

• Resilient Response: After being swept by Spring Hill, the Marauders regrouped to grind out a five-set win just hours later.

• Balanced Production: The combination of steady setting (Morris & Crosby), timely serving (Holston, Morris, Coates), and defensive toughness (Holston, Hendricks) proved vital in the 2–1 cluster record.

Up Next

Central State (6-6, 3-4 SIAC) will look to carry its momentum into the next stretch of SIAC play, continuing to build on its balanced attack and defensive grit as the season progresses.