ATLANTA, GA. – This past weekend, Epps Gymnasium hosted the inaugural Atlanta Volley Classic. On Saturday and Sunday Clark Atlanta University, Allen University, Benedict College, Harris Stowe State University, and Talladega College battled it out in a series of double and tri matches.
Clark Atlanta opened the court in the first match in the Atlanta Volleyball Classic. The Lady Panthers swept Allen University in a three-set match on Saturday. Strong from start to finish,
Shynique McGee led the team with 17 kills and 14 digs. Allen University just was not able to keep up.
However, this victory did not last as Benedict College defeated Clark Atlanta in the second Saturday match. The ladies started off with first win of the match. Big blocks from
Makayla Murphy and
Sanaa Simmons gave Clark Atlanta a four-point lead in the first set accompanied by a kill from
Sanaa Simmons. The momentum was lost, The Lady Panthers rallied for a close two sets with scores of 27-25 ending with Benedict gaining a two-set lead. Although they fought hard Benedict came back harder with a five-point run toward the end of the last set taking the match 3-1. This was a personal best for the season for some players.
Trenity Pender had a season high of 29 digs and
Makayla Murphy with 8 blocks.
Sunday started off slow for the Lady Panthers with 3-0 match loss to Harris-Stowe. Harris Stowe had multiple point runs on the Panthers in the second set after not being able to break the serving streaks from both Mallorie Wooten and Jayden Sortor. Panther Defense was just not strong enough to hold off the offensive play from Harris Stowe's A'nyla Watson and Queen Patterson. Clark Atlanta's error riddled play highly contributed to the match loss.
Sunday turned around for the better, with the Clark Atlanta victory against Talladega. This five-set match started with a two-set lead from the Lady Panthers.
Shynique McGee was named player of the game with 31 kills a season high for her thus far.
Sanaa Simmons was also on fire this match, with 45 assists. Also giving this setter a personal best for the season. Talladega rallied back to tie the match 2-2. In both the third and fourth set Talladega ran away with the set win with a 5-point streak. Not all was lost Clark Atlanta took home the victory with the win in the last set.
Overall, an eventful weekend for the Lady Panthers and a great way to kick off Homecoming week. The Lady Panthers next match is at Fort Valley State University Wednesday October 12
th.
