The Clark Atlanta University Lady Panthers volleyball team battled hard, but lost in three sets to Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference East Division leader Albany State 3-0 Tuesday in Albany, Ga.

The Lady Panthers (10-8, 6-6 SIAC) had won four of five matches heading into Albany.  But Albany State (12-8, 6-2 SIAC) ran their winning streak over CAU to six games and gives ASU a four-game lead in the East Division race.  CAU is one game behind second-place Benedict.

Tuesday, the Lady Panthers turned a three-point deficit into a 20-17 lead late in the first set after a kill by Lauryn Terry capped a 7-1 CAU run.  Five straight Albany State points put the Golden Rams put them back ahead at 22-20. The Lady Panthers closed to within one at 23-22 after Chelsea Doswell's service error, but ASU took the final two points of the set to win it 25-22.

In the second set, CAU started fast, taking a 11-5 lead after Makayla Murphy's kill.  A quick ASU surge saw the Golden Rams to tie the set at 12-all before another CAU run, capped by Miara Bolden's kill on an assist by Amirah Bentley, put that up 15-12.  ASU then tied it after three straight points and then closed out the set with a 13-5 run to take the set 25-20.

ASU tried to end the match quickly in the third set, taking a seven-point lead at 15-8.  But CAU clawed back with a 9-1 run that ended with a Kia Thomas block and giving the Lady Panthers a 17-16 lead. 
Terry's kill later gave CAU a 19-18 lead, but that would be the last lead of the match for the Lady Panthers as ASU ended the set with a 7-2 run to win it 25-21.

Murphy and Terry each led CAU with six kills, with Terry adding five digs.  Thomas had five kills, 16 digs, three blocks and an ace, while Bentley finished with 26 assists, three kills, seven digs and a block.  Bolden had five kills and six digs, Kiara Finely added five kills and five digs, and TiAna Crider had 11 digs and two aces.

Albany State, which has dropped only one set to CAU in two matches this season, was led by Sydney Melton's 11 kills and 12 digs, Doswell's 33 assists and 14 digs, and Jolesia McClenton's 19 digs. 

The Lady Panthers return home for three straight home games, starting on Friday, Nov. 5 when CAU hosts Benedict at 6 p.m.