Lauryn Terry had 11 kills while Amirah Bentley added eight kills, 26 assists and 14 digs as Clark Atlanta opened the 2019 season with a 3-1 victory over a stubborn Talladega College team Friday.

In front of a loud crowd at L.S. Epps Gymnasium, the Lady Panthers (1-0) jumped out to a two-set lead on the strength of a 6-0 run midway in the first set to cruise to a 25-16 win and then a 10-1 run during the second set to win that frame 25-17.

But the Tornadoes (3-2) didn't wilt.   Taylor Prude's kill gave CAU an 8-5 lead in the third set.  Talladega kept it close, tying the set at 9-all on three Lady Panthers errors and a kill by the Tornadoes' Jaszia Bowie.   Eight ties later – after Lauryn Terry's kill for CAU – the set was knotted at 22.  Talladega took the third set after forcing three CAU errors to win it 25-22.

The fourth set see-sawed between the two teams as Carlesia Nunnally's service ace had Talladega down by just one, 20-19.  But the Lady Panthers ended the Talladega challenge by grabbing the next five points to seal the set and the win.

Terry, a freshman from Tulsa, Oklahoma, led the Lady Panthers with 11 kills in her CAU debut. Bentley's big game also came in her first appearance in a Lady Panther uniform.  Prude finished with six kills, while Ashley Elmore had nine aces and four blocks.  Tiana Crider had 15 digs, seven assists, and two aces.  Preseason All-SIAC pick Kia Thomas added two blocks, two assists and an ace.  Justice Taylor had ten digs while Imani Ellis finished with five blocks.

Reanna Burroughs led Talladega with 11 kills, while Nunnally had six kills, eight digs, two aces and an assist.

The Lady Panthers will be home for their next match, when they host Claflin University on Wednesday, Sept. 11 at 6 p.m.