RALEIGH, N.C. – Middle blocker Stephony Newkirk (Jr./Greenville, N.C.) and middle hitter Brittany Hicks (Fr./Louisburg, N.C.) powered Saint Augustine's College to a 3-0 CIAA volleyball victory over crosstown rival Shaw University on Tuesday (Sept. 22) at Emery Gymnasium.

The win was the third straight and the ninth in 11 matches for the Lady Falcons, who improved to 9-10 overall, 9-2 in the CIAA and 3-1 in the Western Division. The Lady Bears fell to 7-4 overall, 6-2 in the CIAA and 1-2 in the Western Division.

Newkirk led all players with 16 kills and Hicks added 10 kills to spark the Lady Falcons, who won by scores of 25-20, 25-14, 25-19. Earlier in the day, Hicks was named CIAA rookie of the week, and Head Coach Covance Mortimer was named CIAA volleyball coach of the week.

Outside hitter Shakira Carter (Jr./St. Michael, Barbados) added seven kills and 3.5 blocks and middle blocker Courtney Mosley (Jr./Decatur, Ga.) added six kills and 2.5 blocks for the Lady Falcons, who totaled eight team blocks. Setter Roxanne Smith (St. Catherine, Jamaica) contributed 34 assists and four service aces, and libero Nicolette Campbell (Nassau, Bahamas) led the Lady Falcons with 9 digs. Both Monica Grimmage and Nikita Grant led the Lady Bears with four kills each, and Nia Bailey had 12 assists. Jade Bibb chipped in six digs.

With the victory, the Lady Falcons finished their four-match home stretch with a 3-1 record. Now they hit the road for an important CIAA Western Division contest against Fayetteville State University on Thursday (Sept .24) in Fayetteville, N.C. The match starts at 6:00 p.m. The Lady Bears will travel to Fayetteville State on Sept. 30 for a match at 6:00 p.m.