The Clark Atlanta University Lady Panthers volleyball team erased a 2-0 deficit, winning the final three sets to defeat Fort Valley State 3-2 at L.S. Epps Gymnasium Tuesday.
CAU (9-6, 7-4 SIAC) won their third straight match and grabbed their fifth win out of the last six games. It was also their fourth consecutive Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference victory.
But it didn't come easy as Fort Valley State (5-12, 1-10 SIAC) looked determined to win their first conference game since they defeated Miles on Sept. 26.
After falling behind 6-2 in the first set, the Wildcats took eight of the next 11 points to lead 10-9. CAU kept it close, leading 16-15 after a
Makayla Murphy kill. The set stayed tight and was tied 23-all before FVSU won the next two points to win the first set 25-23.
The second set was just as close until FVSU opened up a 23-17 lead late in the set. The Lady Panthers pulled to within two at 24-22, but fell 25-22.
But an inspired CAU team came into the third set, determined to right the ship. They took a close third set that used a 6-3 run at the end of the set win it 25-21. Then they used a big 9-1 run midway through the fourth set to go up 21-13, eventually taking it 25-18 to tie the match at 2-2.
The deciding set saw the Lady Panthers lead the entire way, winning it 15-10 to grab the win.
Kiara Finley led the Lady Panthers with 13 kills, two aces and nine digs.
Lauryn Terry had 11 kills, with Murphy adding seven kills, two blocks and four assists.
Miara Bolden had seven kills and two digs and
Jalen Dickerson added six kills and two digs.
Amirah Bentley had 36 assists and 12 digs.
Kia Thomas, who didn't play in the first two sets, came off the bench to make three kills and three digs.
Fort Valley State was led by Raven Edwards who had 11 kills and 11 digs, and Bianca Haslett who had nine kills, three aces and a dig.
The Lady Panthers next head out on the road where they visit Savannah State on Friday. They return home to L.S. Epps Gymnasium on Sunday when they host Edward Waters at 2 p.m.
