SALISBURY, NC (September 16, 2022) – The Claflin Lady Panthers (5-0, 1-0 CIAA) kept their undefeated start to the 2022 season going when the team opened Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) play with a dominating three-set road win over the Livingstone Blue Bears (0-3, 0-1 CIAA), Thursday evening. The Lady Panthers used some stellar defense to claim the 25-9, 25-10, and 25-18.
After holding their opponents to just 37 points in the match, the Lady Panthers balanced their efforts with some solid offense to claim the victory. As a team, the Lady Panthers needed just 27 kills to claim the win. The team also added a tremendous performance in the service game as they totaled 11 service aces in the match. Claflin senior outside hitter Mya Broom led the way for the Lady Panthers’ balanced attack with seven kills. Fellow senior Simone Newell added six kills with 15 digs. Sophomore libero Jasmine Kirkland led the Lady Panthers with four service aces. Freshman setter Siri Davis and junior outside hitter Chidera Wilson both added three service aces, each.
The Lady Panthers dominated every set of the match to claim their win. The team opened the match by only allowing nine Livingstone points. The highlight of the set was a 10-point Claflin run that put the team on top, 13-3. From there, the cruised to the win, but not before mounting an eight-point run later in the set as well. The Lady Panthers continued to control the match with another dominating performance in the second set. In the second set, the Lady Panthers had several smaller runs, including a six-point run that kept them on top, 10-1. From there, the team cruised to the set win by outscoring the Blue Bears, 15-9. The third set was slightly different. When the Lady Panthers found themselves trailing 7-11. The team responded with six straight points. The run was capped by a Broom kill that left the Lady Panthers on top, 13-11. After staying on top, 19-17, the Lady Panthers pulled away to claim the win with a 6-1 run. It was a kill from sophomore middle hitter Taneja Robinson that sealed the victory.
With the win, the Lady Panthers improve to 5-0 and, more importantly, the team opens CIAA play with a 1-0 record. For more information on Lady Panthers volleyball, contact the Claflin University Office of Athletics Media Relations at (803) 535-5548 or log on to www.athletics.claflin.edu.