CHARLOTTE, NC - The Claflin University Lady Panthers (4-3, 2-0 CIAA) continued to roll, Monday evening when the team took a three-set win over the Johnson C. Smith Golden Bulls (0-6, 0-2 CIAA). The Lady Panthers took the win behind another terrific defensive performance on their way to their third straight win and their second straight Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) win.
 
The Lady Panthers took the win behind another great effort, topping the Golden Bulls, 25-21, 25-18, and 25-17. As a team, the Lady Panthers totaled 11 service aces, including four from junior setter Monae Rowser. It was junior outside hitter Simone Newell who led the Claflin attack with 10 kills in the match. Defensively, senior Trinity Fierce led the way with a team-high 16 digs in the match.
 
Things got underway with a thrilling opening set. It was a kill from junior outside hitter Danielle Branch that really got things going for the Lady Panthers. The kill gave the team a 12-11 lead over the Golden Bulls and sparked a four-point run that included a Rowser ace. From there, the Lady Panthers would not let the Golden Bulls get any closer than two points before closing the set with four straight points and taking the 25-21 win.
 
The second and third sets were not quite as exciting with the Lady Panthers cruising to respective 25-18 and 25-17 wins. In the second set, the Lady Panthers had two separate four-point runs before closing the set with a three-point run that included another Rowser ace and was capped by a kill from junior middle hitter Sadaiya Edouard. In the third set, the Lady Panthers had to fend off an early run by the Golden Bulls that left them trailing, 6-4. But the Lady Panthers soon got back into things later in the set. With the Lady Panthers holding on to a 13-12 lead, the team broke out for a dominating six-point rally that left the team ahead, 18-12. After allowing three unanswered points to the Golden Bulls, the Lady Panthers broke for another five-point rally to go ahead 24-15. The Lady Panthers allowed back-to-back scores by the Golden Bulls before closing out the match with a Newell kill that capped the 25-17 win.
 
With the win, the Lady Panthers improve to 4-3 overall and an impressive 2-0 in CIAA play. The team will return to the road for their next action as the team will take part in the 2021 CIAA Volleyball Round Up. The team will take on the Bowie State Bulldogs and the Virginia Union Panthers on Saturday before closing the weekend against the Shaw Lady Bears on Sunday.
 
For more information on Claflin University volleyball, contact the Claflin University Office of Athletic Media Relations at (803) 535-5548 or log on to www.athletics.claflin.edu.