The Clark Atlanta University Lady Panthers had a tough first day in the three-day SIAC Crossover tournament in Albany, Ga.  CAU (1-5, 0-4 SIAC) lost three matches Thursday, two in really close battles throughout.

CAU vs. Spring Hill
In the first game of the day, the Lady Panthers took on a Spring Hill College team that that was on a nine-game winning streak and was 11-3 overall.

Spring Hill jumped out early in the second set, sprinting out to a 12-point lead at 21-9 lead. 
The Lady Panthers forced seven Spring Hill attack errors, along with getting kills from Amirah Bentley, Ashley Elmore and Imani Ellis and a service ace from Kia Thomas.  It wasn't enough at the CAU rally fell short in the first set, losing 25-20.  

The second set was tight as Taylor Prude's kill gave CAU a 10-9 lead. Spring Hill won six on the next seven points to retake the lead at 15-11.  It was a lead they maintained to win the second set 25-17. 

In the third set, Spring Hill sprinted out to a 7-0 lead and then used another five-point spurt midway through to take the third set, 25-8, and the match, 3-0.
Prude had five kills and four digs for CAU while Elmore also had five kills and added five digs. Bentley had nine assists while Crider finished with six digs.

CAU vs. Tuskegee

The Lady Panthers battled Tuskegee for five sets Thursday.  In the first set, CAU trailed by six points midway through but used a 6-1 run to pull to within a point at 13-12.   The Lady Panthers kept things close and took the lead late on TiAna Crider's service ace that made it 23-22.  Two Kia Thomas kills later, the Lady Panthers won the first set 25-23,

In the second set, Tuskegee had the late heroics, scoring three of the last four points to win the second frame 26-24.   Tuskegee was able to maintain a short lead in a tight third set to win it 25-19.  But the Lady Panthers roared back in the fourth set, leading most of the way but having to score the last four points of the set to win it 26-24 and force the match to a deciding fifth set.

In the final set, which was close throughout, the Lady Panthers led 11-10 after a kill by Elmore.  But Tuskegee got five of the next six points to take the set and the match. 

Elmore had a big match with 13 kills and 11 digs.  Thomas had 15 kills and three blocks, while Chara Robbins had 36 assists.  Crider finished with 17 digs.

CAU vs. Central State

Against Central State, the Lady Panthers trailed by eight points three times in the first set, but rallied, with a 7-1 run to trail by four, 21-17 after Prude's kill.  The Lady Panthers closed to within two, but CSU was able to hold their lead, wining the set 25-21. 

In the second set, Central State led most of the way, until Thomas' kill tied the set at 18-all.  Prude's kill nudged CAU ahead late, 23-21.  Central State tied the set at 23-23 after attack errors by Terry and Crider. A CSU attack error gave the Lady Panthers the lead at 24-23. But CSU scored four of the next five points to take the close set 27-25. 

In the third set, CAU led most of the first half of the set, but was outscored by CSU late as the Marauders scored ten of the last 11 points to win the set 25-13, and the match 3-0. 
Thomas led the Lady Panthers with nine kills, while Prude and Terry each had seven. Crider had nine digs while Robbins had 26 assists.

Clark Atlanta is back on the court for Day Two of the SIAC Crossover on Friday beginning with a match against LeMoyne Owen College at 10 a.m.  At 2 p.m., the Lady Panthers take on Kentucky State and then finish the day against Lane College at 6 p.m.   CAU has a single game against Miles College on Saturday at 8 a.m.

Follow the action via live stats at https://stat.center/scorerstable-live.html.

The Lady Panthers next home game will be Oct. 11 when they host Paine College at 6 p.m.