Albany, Ga. — The Claflin University women's volleyball team wrapped up the Black Excellence Volleyball Showcase on Saturday with a pair of hard-fought losses, falling 3-2 to Benedict College before dropping a 3-1 decision to Fort Valley State. The Lady Panthers battled all day and finished the weekend 2-2, moving to 3-2 overall in a young season.
Match 1: Claflin vs. Benedict
Claflin opened the day against Benedict in a five-set thriller, with the two teams trading momentum from start to finish. After dropping the opening set 25-22, the Lady Panthers answered with a 27-25 victory before taking the third set 25-23 to move within one set of closing out the match.
Benedict responded by taking the fourth set 25-19, setting up a decisive fifth set. The Lady Tigers ultimately prevailed 15-12, handing Claflin its first loss of the showcase.
Zaniya Harris led the Lady Panthers with nine kills and seven service aces, while
Taylor Miller and
Monica Burns added six kills apiece.
Joi Tinsley directed the offense with 16 assists and six aces, while
Abigail Watts anchored the defensive effort with a match-high 27 digs. Harris added 16 digs, and
Nadia Embry recorded nine. At the net,
Aryanna Connell, Miller and Burns each finished with two blocks.
Match 2: Claflin vs. Fort Valley
Claflin returned to the court for its final match of the weekend against Fort Valley State. The Lady Panthers opened with a 25-20 setback, then answered with a 25-19 win in the second set. Fort Valley State regained control in the third set, winning 25-22, and closed out the match with a 25-19 fourth-set win.
Harris again paced the Claflin attack with nine kills, while Miller contributed five and
Jamila Lewis added three. Connell served as a major weapon from the service line, recording six aces, while Tinsley added four and Embry finished with two.
Tinsley recorded nine assists, followed by Embry with eight and Watts with four. Harris led the defensive effort with 10 digs, while Watts added nine and
Nylah Holmes contributed seven. Connell recorded two blocks, while Harris added one.
The weekend provided plenty of positives for a young Lady Panthers squad that opened the season with a strong showing and competed against quality opponents. Claflin's 2-2 weekend mark at the showcase gives the team a 3-2 record heading into its next road trip.
Up Next
The Lady Panthers will remain on the road Sept. 11-12 when they travel to Memphis, Tenn., for the Christian Brothers Invitational. Claflin will face Miles College, Christian Brothers University, LeMoyne-Owen College, and Southern New Hampshire University during the two-day tournament.
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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.
