RALEIGH, NC - The Claflin Lady Panthers (12-9, 9-5 CIAA) rolled to a key three-set road win over the Saint Augustine's Falcons (8-13, 6-8 CIAA), Monday evening. It was a stifling defensive effort that led the Lady Panthers to the 25-20, 25-15, and 25-16 win.
 
As a team, the Lady Panthers put on one of their best overall performances of the season. The Lady Panthers held the Falcons to just 26 kills, but the team also forced 26 attack errors by the Falcons to take the win. The Lady Panthers totaled nine blocks (one solo) in the win with the duo of junior outside hitter Mya Broom and senior middle blocks Sadaiya Edouard leading the way with three total blocks (none solo) each. Senior middle hitter Makayla Crosby added the sole solo block for the team. Edouard was just as effective scoring for the Lady Panthers as she totaled four service aces in the match as well. Offensively, junior outside hitter Simone Newell led the way for the Lady Panthers with eight kills in the match.
 
The match was started with a competitive opening set, but once the Lady Panthers found their groove, the team never looked back with some dominant performances in the second and third sets of the match. In the first set, the Lady Panthers took their time getting started with Saint Augustine's opening the set with a 4-2 run, but the Lady Panthers clawed their way back into the set when back-to-back SAU attack errors capped a 6-3 run and gave the Lady Panthers their first lead of the match, 8-7. After falling behind, 10-8, the Lady Panthers got things going in a big way when a kill from junior outside hitter Danielle Branch gave the Lady Panthers a 14-13 lead that the team never let go. After allowing the Falcons to tie the set, 20-20, the Lady Panthers pulled away for the opening set win with five unanswered points. The run included four SAU attack errors and it was finished by a Broom kill that sealed the 25-20 opening set win.
 
The dominating manner of the end of the first set carried over into the second set. After opening the set with a 5-4 lead, the Lady Panthers surged ahead even further with a service ace from senior libero Ayanna Harrison gave the Lady Panthers a 17-7 lead after a 12-4 run. From there, the Lady Panthers held off the Falcons to claim the 25-15 second set win.
 
The third and final set saw a different beginning, but in the end, the Lady Panthers were able to get things going and the team pulled away for the win. After allowing the Falcons to go on a 5-1 run to open the set, the Lady Panthers clawed their way back into the set. A Crosby kill that pulled the Lady Panthers to within one point, 10-11, sparked a 9-1 run that gave the Lady Panthers a 17-12 lead. From there, the Lady Panthers continued to roll as the team went on to claim the win. The final points of the match saw the Lady Panthers go on a five-point run that included back-to-back service aces from Edouard. The effort gave the Lady Panthers a 24-15 lead before the team closed the match by allowing an SAU kill and forcing an SAU attack error.
 
With the win, the Lady Panthers improve to 12-9 overall and 9-5 in CIAA play. The team also improves to 6-2 in the CIAA Southern Division. The win solidifies the team's hold on second place in the division. The Lady Panthers will return home for their next action as they will host the Winston-Salem State University Rams in a 6:00 p.m. match, Thursday. The match will determine which team holds on to the coveted second place spot in the division.
 
For more information on Lady Panthers volleyball, contact the Claflin University Office of Athletic Media Relations at (803) 535-5548 or log on to www.athletics.claflin.edu.