RALEIGH, NC (November 1, 2022) – The Claflin Lady Panthers punched their ticket to the dance as the team earned the eighth seed in the 2022 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Volleyball Championship Tournament. After completing the regular season with a winning record for the second straight season, the Lady Panthers will begin their chase for the conference championship, Monday evening.
The Lady Panthers earned their spot in the tournament after compiling a 12-9 overall record and a 6-9 record in CIAA play. The team finished the season in fourth place in the CIAA Southern Division after going 5-5 in division play. The Lady Panthers ended the regular season on a high note after a dominant three-set senior night win snapped a four-match losing streak.
With the eighth-place seeding, the Lady Panthers will head to Raleigh, North Carolina to take on the top-seeded Shaw Lady Bears (20-7, 15-1 CIAA). The two teams met earlier this season when the Lady Panthers took a three-set loss to the eventual CIAA Northern Division champions. The senior duo of Danelle Branch and Simone Newell both recorded seven kills each in the match. Newell led the Lady Panthers defense with 10 digs.
The Lady Panthers and the Lady Bears will open the 2022 CIAA Volleyball Championship Tournament, Monday evening at 6:00 p.m. 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.