The Clark Atlanta University Lady Panthers volleyball team got a huge win last night, defeating Savannah State 3-1 at L.S. Epps Gymnasium.

The Lady Panthers (12-9) took over third place in a tight Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference East Division race in which CAU was just behind Savannah State (10-12) who is now in fourth place.

The two teams both had 6-7 conference records heading into the match, with a higher seeding in the next week's SIAC Volleyball Championships in Rock Hill, S.C. on the line.

The fourth-seeded team from the East Division faces the first-place team in the West Division, who is undefeated Spring Hill, on Monday in the SIAC tournament. The third-place team from the East faces the second-seeded team, which will be either Kentucky State or Central State.

On a Senior Night when Imani Baker, TiAna Crider, Amirah Bentley, and Kia Thomas were honored as they played their final home game for CAU, the Lady Panthers came out strong, winning four of the last five points to win a very tight first set. Jalen Dickerson had two big kills during that set-ending run.

The second set was another close battle with 17 lead changes as the set was tied 20-20.  But they took the set on the strength of three Thomas blocks and a Miara Bolden kill to win the set 25-20.

The third set was much like the first two, this time with Savannah State breaking a 22-22 tie with three points to keep the match going by winning the set.

But a determined Lady Panthers squad came out firing in the fourth set, winning the first four points, and then kept control of the rest of the set, wining the set 25-12, and the match 3-1.

The win avenges a 3-0 loss to the Tigers in Savannah in October.

Dickerson led CAU with 12 kills, five digs, two blocks, and three aces. Thomas had 11 kills, five blocks, one dig and two assists, while Lauryn Terry finished with eight kills and five digs. Bolden had six kills, with Makayla Murphy adding five kills and three digs. Bentley had 36 assists, three kills, 12 digs, and three aces. Crider had 16 digs and four assists.

Imani Williamson led Savannah State with 12 kills, three digs and two aces, while Jasmine Nettles added nine kills and four digs.

The battle for third in the SIAC East continues as the Lady Panthers visit Fort Valley State (8-16, 1-13 SIAC) on Thursday to end the regular season. CAU defeated FVSU in five sets in October.  Savannah State ends their season Friday night when they host SIAC East leaders, Albany State.