The Clark Atlanta University Lady Panthers won one of three matches Friday during the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Crossover in Albany, Ga.

The Lady Panthers (2-7, 1-6 SIAC) were coming off a first day in the 3-day meet in which they lost three matches, two in close battles that went down to the wire. 

CAU vs. LeMoyne Owen

The first set was tied 13-all when Ashley Elmore got a kill and then Chara Robbins added a service ace to put CAU up 15-13.  The Magicians challenged, but CAU pulled away late to win the first set 25-19.   The Lady Panthers scored seven of eight points midway through the second set to take a lead they wouldn't lose to win the set 25-16.

The Lady Panthers erased an early deficit in the third set, winning eight of nine points midway through the set, to tie the set at 11-11 after Taylor Prude's service ace. It stayed close as Elmore's kill kept CAU in the set at 24-22.  But Jasmine Davis' kill gave LeMoyne Owen the set 25-22.   The fourth set was close until late in the set when LeMoyne Owen got seven of eight points late to take control of the set and tie the match at two sets apiece.

In the deciding fifth set, the Lady Panthers had a four-point spurt early that gave them enough separation to hold the lead and win the final set 15-12 and the match.

Thomas finished with 16 kills and five digs, while Prude had 11 kills and 20 digs.  Lauryn Terry had 11 kills and nine digs, while Chara Robbins had 42 assists, three blocks and three aces for CAU.

CAU vs. Kentucky State

CAU took on a Kentucky State team that made it to the SIAC Championship game last season. Friday, the Lady Panthers had the upper hand in the first half of the first set, leading 13-10 after a Kia Thomas kill.  But the Thorobreds romped back, going on a 8-0 run to take the lead at 18-13.  KSU maintained that lead and won the first set, 25-19.  

In the second set, KSU broke open a close set by winning six of the last seven points to take the set 25-16.  In the third set, the Lady Panthers were down just three points after TiAna Crider's service ace made it 15-12.  But KSU scored seven of the next nine points to pull away to take the set 25-17, and the match.

Thomas had eight kills, a block and a service ace for CAU. Taylor Prude had six kills and nine digs, while Lauryn Terry added five kills, two blocks and two assists. Chara Robbins had 20 assists, and TiAna Crider had nine digs.

CAU vs. Lane

It took five sets – CAU's third five-set match of the Crossover – to decide this match. 

The two teams traded the lead much of the first set.  But CAU went on an 11-3 run late in the set to win the first frame 25-16.  Lane led nearly the entire second set, pulling away late to win the second set 25-19.  The third set went back and forth until Lane had a late four-point swing to go up 22-19.  But Kia Thomas' kill started a three-point CAU run that tied the match at 22.  
The two teams went back and forth before CAU ended the set on three straight points, two on a Thomas kill and her service ace, to win the set 27-25.

Lane took control of the fourth set early and held off CAU to win the set 25-16 and tie the match at 2-2.

In the deciding fifth set, CAU was down just one at 13-12 after Lauryn Terry's kill.  But Lane ended the set, and the match, by winning the last two points. 

Thomas finished with a season-high 18 kills, along with two aces and a dig. Terry had 15 kills and eight digs, while Prude had 11 kills and 15 digs for CAU. Robbins had 51 assists. 

Saturday, the Lady Panthers close out their SIAC Crossover run when they take on Miles College at 8 a.m.  Follow the action live by going to https://stat.center/scorerstable-live.html. 

After a road game at Fort Valley State Tuesday, the Lady Panthers return home on Friday, Oct. 11 to take on Paine College at 6 p.m