Frankfort, KY(story by Alyssa Latney)--- The Clark Atlanta University Lady Panthers packed their bags and headed up to the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Volleyball Cross-Over Tournament in Frankfort, Kentucky, where they took over the three day competition winning all six of their matches in straight sets last weekend.
In their first game against Lane College, junior Tyneishah Spears put up a team-high seven service aces while staying active in the game with six digs. Senior Danica Lawrence also held offensive control with a total of seven kills in the contest. Spears also lead the team in digs with seven against LeMoyne-Owen and freshman Cori Smith attacked with nine kills followed by Lawrence with eight.
Day two of the tournament resumed with Smith blasting Tuskegee University with nine kills and dominating Stillman with nine kills, seven service aces and one block for CAU to remain undefeated in Friday’s action.
On the third and final day, Clark Atlanta matched up against Miles College where Smith and Lawrence carried the Lady Panthers offensively with a game-high nine kills each while junior Keierica Howard was a close second with eight. Holding to their winning platform, the Lady Panthers put the finishing touch to Miles and ended the tournament with six straight set wins.
“The team was focused and came ready to play,” said Second-Year Head Coach Brittany Black.
As a team, CAU had more than twice the number of kills of its opponents with 192 in the tournament and outscored them by 206 points. Lawrence and Smith led the team overall with 38 kills each followed by Howard with 31 who also recorded a team-high 12 blocks. Clark Atlanta dominated on the offensive side of the ball with 80 service aces compared to 15 for its opponents. A trio of Lady Panthers recorded double-digit aces led by Spears with 18, setter Kailyn Blackmon who finished with 16, and Smith with 15.
The Lady Panthers will carry their six-game win streak on the road for the next four games including a conference match-up against Claflin University before returning home to face Fort Valley State Tuesday, October 2nd in a double-header at 4 & 7 p.m., in Epps Gymnasium. Admission is FREE for everyone.
