In their first road contest since 2019, the Clark Atlanta University Lady Panthers volleyball team fell to Edward Waters University 3-0 Saturday.

The Lady Panthers (0-2, 0-1 SIAC) went into Jacksonville, Fla., just two days after losing their season-opener to Albany State in Atlanta.  They fell behind early in the first set, 18-9.  Then they scored six of the next seven points, aided by two kills from Kia Thomas and one each by TiAna Crider and Brooke Jones, to pull to within four at 19-15.   But EWC took six of the next eight points to win the set 25-17.

An 8-2 run in the second set, capped by a Jones kill, put CAU ahead 9-6.  The Lady Panthers held to 16-13 when EWC won the next seven points to go up 20-16.  Kills by Crider and Jones, along with an attack error by EWC's Morgan Billingsley, pulled the Lady Panthers to within one at 20-19.  EWC then made their final push, scoring the last five points to win the second set 25-19.

EWC took control early in the third set, though CAU fought back and pulled to within three at 9-6  But that's the closest the Lady Panthers could get as EWC won the third set 25-17, and the match.

Thomas led Clark Atlanta with 8 kills, along with ten digs.  Amirah Bentley had 20 assists, five digs and four kills. Kiara Finley had six kills and four digs, Jones finished with five kills and six digs, Lauryn Terry had six kills and four digs. Dumebi Odiong added three kills, three blocks and a dig.

Edward Waters was led by Arielly De Souza who had eight kills and ten digs for the Lady Tigers.

CAU is back on the court Tuesday, Sept. 21 when they visit Paine College.  After that, they will be part of the SIAC Crossover Tournament in Cartersville, Ga., Sept. 24-26.  They return home to L.S. Epps Gymnasium on Monday, Oct. 4.

Follow CAU volleyball on Twitter (@cau_volleyball) and Instagram (@cau_volleyball).