Winston-Salem, N.C. — The Claflin University volleyball team wrapped up CIAA Roundup 1 on Sunday, battling through two tough conference matches at the C.E. Gaines Center.
The Lady Panthers finished the final day 0-2, bringing their weekend record to 2-4 and their current season record to 9-11 overall and 3-6 in CIAA play.
Claflin Battles Virginia State
Claflin opened the day with a hard-fought four-set battle against Virginia State. The Lady Panthers came out swinging, taking the opening set 25-22 behind an impressive offensive start.
Claflin recorded 17 kills on 35 attempts in the opening frame, hitting .343 as a team. Virginia State responded by taking the next three sets, 25-20, 25-20 and 25-23, to secure the 3-1 victory.
Monica Burns led Claflin with 11 kills, while
Zaniya Harris added nine and
Danielle Dais finished with eight. Harris also recorded two service aces, while
Nadia Embry and
Abigail Watts each added one.
The Lady Panthers controlled the net throughout the match, with
Taylor Miller and Burns recording five blocks apiece.
Nala Calvin added three. Embry finished with 15 assists, while
Joi Tinsley added 14. Watts led the defensive effort with eight digs, followed by Dais with seven and
Jadah Rasool with six.
Claflin finished with 39 kills and a .165 hitting percentage, while Virginia State recorded 48 kills and hit .136.
Claflin vs. Shaw
The Lady Panthers returned to the court for their final match of the weekend against Shaw. Claflin carried the same competitive energy into the matchup, looking to finish the roundup on a high note and cap a demanding weekend of conference play. The Lady Panthers battled throughout the three-set contest, but Shaw gained control early and went on to secure a 3-0 victory.
Aryanna Connell,
Taylor Miller and Harris led Claflin offensively, recording seven, seven and six kills, respectively.
Miller turned in another strong defensive performance at the net with six blocks. Connell and Burns added three blocks apiece. Tinsley paced the offense with 14 assists, while Embry finished with 11. Rasool led Claflin with six digs, followed by Tinsley with five and Harris with four.
Despite the tough finish, the weekend provided the Lady Panthers with valuable opportunities to compete against some of the conference's top programs and test themselves in a demanding stretch of CIAA play.
Up Next
Claflin now turns its attention to its next road test. The Lady Panthers will return to action Oct. 8 at 6 p.m. against Bluefield State in Bluefield, West Virginia.
Stay Connected
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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.
