Albany, Ga. — The Lady Panthers continued their strong start to the 2026 season by earning a pair of straight-set victories on the opening day of the Black Excellence Volleyball Showcase.
The Lady Panthers began the day with a 3-0 victory over Allen University and closed it out with another 3-0 sweep against Savannah State University. With these two wins, Claflin improved to 3-0 for the season, marking the program's best start since 2022.
Claflin 3, Allen 0
The Lady Panthers clinched victory in three hard-fought sets, triumphing with scores of 25-23, 25-23, and 25-21.
Zaniya Harris shone brightly on the court, leading Claflin with an impressive seven kills that energized the team.
Monica Burns made her presence felt as well, contributing six kills and showcasing her skills at the net with a remarkable five blocks.
Jamila Lewis also made a significant impact with three blocks, while
Grayson Graham added her own flair with five kills and two blocks.
Abigail Watts added a spark from the service line with six aces and also recorded six digs.
Joi Tinsley contributed four aces and 11 assists.
Nadia Embry directed the offense with 13 assists, while Tinsley finished with 11. Watts and
Nylah Holmes led the defensive effort with six digs each, followed by Graham with five.
The Lady Panthers consistently prevented Allen from gaining momentum, making crucial plays late in each set to secure the sweep.
Claflin 3, Savannah State 0
Claflin carried its momentum into the second match of the day, overcoming a back-and-forth opening set before taking control against Savannah State. The Lady Panthers edged Savannah State 28-26 in the opening set before pulling away with victories of 25-14 in set 2 and 25-19 in set 3 to complete their second sweep of the day.
The opening set proved to be a turning point. After Savannah State pushed Claflin deep into extra points, the Lady Panthers found a way to close out the 28-26 battle. Claflin then carried that momentum into the second set, gaining an early advantage and maintaining control.
Harris once again led the offensive attack with 10 kills, while Burns added nine and
Aryanna Connell finished with eight. Watts continued her strong serving performance, recording five aces, while Connell added four and Harris contributed two. Burns led the defense at the net with four blocks, while Connell and
Taylor Miller each recorded three. Embry finished with a team-high 17 assists, with Tinsley contributing 11. Embry also recorded six digs, followed by Watts with five and Harris with four.
Across both matches, Claflin showcased a balanced attack, aggressive serving, and solid defense, allowing the Lady Panthers to stay composed during critical moments. Claflin now enters the final day of the showcase with a perfect 3-0 record and plenty of momentum.
Up Next
Claflin will return to action Saturday at 9 a.m. against Benedict College before closing out the Black Excellence Volleyball Showcase at 1 p.m. against Fort Valley State University.
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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.
