Clark Atlanta University Athletics

Kia Thomas had 21 kills, with Amirah Bentley adding 46 assists, as Clark Atlanta ended their regular season with a 3-1 victory on the road over Fort Valley State Thursday.

The Lady Panthers finish the regular season with 13-9, their highest overall win total since winning seventeen games in 2017.  More importantly, CAU finishes 8-7 in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, locking up third place in the SIAC East Division.

That means the Lady Panthers will be seeded third in the SIAC Conference Volleyball Tournament that begins Monday.  CAU will face either Central State or Kentucky State in the first round.

Thursday, Fort Valley State (8-17, 1-14 SIAC) jumped out early, taking the first set from CAU 25-19, winning nine of the last ten points of the set.

The second set saw CAU win ten of the last 12 points to take the frame 25-19.  In the third set, CAU was behind 23-22, but got two kills from Jalen Dickerson and a service ace by Bentley to win three consecutive points and win the set 25-23.

The final set saw CAU win 11 of the last 13 points to win the set 25-15, and the match 3-1.

Thomas led CAU with 21 kills, 11 digs, two aces, and two blocks. Dickerson had 13 kills and two blocks, while Bentley finished with 46 assists, 15 digs, four kills, and two aces.  Lauryn Terry had nine kills and three digs, TiAna Crider had 13 digs, one kill, while Nina Freeman added 12 digs. Miara Bolden had four kills, nine digs, and three aces.

Raven Edwards finished with 13 kills for FVSU, and Morgan Hebert added 13 digs and five kills.