Orangeburg, S.C. – The Claflin University volleyball put down 31 kills as the swept Saint Augustine's University (SAU), 25-16-25-22, 25-18, in its 2019 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) opener.  The win, the second in three games, push the Lady Panthers record to 2-4 overall and 1-0 in the CIAA.  Saint Augustine's drops to 0-2, 0-2 (CIAA).
 
Junior Jala Roberts was the only Lady Panthers player to finish with double-digit kills, putting down 11.  Freshman Taylor Drayton had another solid match, finishing with eight kills with six digs and one block-assist.
 
Defensively, sophomore Angel Johnson and freshman Paris Heathman picked up eight digs apiece while Freshman Léah Wellington and sophomore Vianca Cólon Gonzalez had 15 and 12 assists, respectively.
 
Saint Augustine's was led offensively by Brittany Jamison with a match-high 13 kills.  Deandra Small put down six kills while Janina Mayers picked up a match-high 16 digs to lead the Falcons defensively.
 
Claflin will return to action on Tuesday, Oct. 2 when they travel to Raleigh, NC to take on the Bears of Shaw University in a CIAA Southern Division match.  The Lady Panthers will then return home for three straight matches beginning Friday, Oct. 4 when they host Winston-Salem State University in a CIAA Southern Division match. First serve for Friday's match is set for 6 p.m. in Tullis Arena.
 
Claflin will host the CIAA Round-up next Saturday-Sunday, Oct. 5-6.  The CIAA Round-up will be contested in Tullis Arena and the Jonas T. Kennedy Health and Wellness Center Auxiliary Gym.