Orangeburg, S. C. — The Lady Panthers made a statement on their home court Thursday night, taking down fifth- ranked Winston- Salem State University in a four- set upset that ended a nearly five- year wait for a win over the Lady Rams. Claflin' s 3-1 victory marked its first win over Winston- Salem State since November 2021 and extended the team' s home winning streak, giving the Lady Panthers another reason to celebrate on Dig Pink night.
Claflin improved to 12-17 overall and 6-12 in conference play with the win.
The Lady Panthers set the tone early, edging Winston- Salem State 25-23 in the opening set behind an efficient offensive effort. Claflin recorded 17 kills and hit. .261, narrowly outperforming the Lady Rams, who finished with 16 kills in the frame.
The second set was more evenly matched, with both teams recording 14 kills. Claflin tried to find the same offensive rhythm, hitting .175, but Winston- Salem State evened the match with a 25-21 win.
Rather than let the momentum slip away, Claflin responded in the third set after dropping the second, winning 25-20 to give CU a 2-1 series lead. The Lady Panthers regrouped and delivered their strongest finish of the night, recording 14 kills in the fourth set to secure a 25-23 victory and seal the upset.
Monica Burns led Claflin with 19 kills and added eight blocks, providing a strong presence on both sides of the net.
Zaniya Harris contributed 12 kills, while
Aryanna Connell added eight.
Nadia Embry paced the offense with 28 assists, and
Joi Tinsley chipped in 17.
Jadah Rasool led the defensive effort with 19 digs, followed by
Abigail Watts with 13 and Harris with 12.
Claflin finished with 54 kills, a .174 hitting percentage, and 11 total blocks. The Lady Panthers also held an advantage in digs, 75-68, helping them extend rallies and create opportunities in key moments.
Up Next
Claflin will remain at home for another CIAA contest against Fayetteville State on Monday, Oct. 26. First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Tullis Arena.
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About Claflin University Athletics
Claflin University is a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II institution that sponsors 13 intercollegiate sports. The university's athletic program includes volleyball; women's flag football; men's and women's cross country; men's and women's basketball; softball; men's and women's indoor and outdoor track and field; and baseball. Claflin's teams compete primarily in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA), while the baseball program competes in the Peach Belt Conference.
