ORANGEBURG, SC – The Claflin University Lady Panthers (2-0) opened home court in a big way when the team took a dominating three-set win over the Columbia College Koalas (0-5), Tuesday evening. The Lady Panthers utilized an overpowering offensive effort to claim their second straight three-set win of the season. This time, the team won 25-23, 25-15, and 25-11.
As a team, the Lady Panthers had a great overall effort in the match, but their offense was what stood out in the win. The Lady Panthers finished the match with 39 total kills with just 15 attack errors. Senior outside hitter Simone Newell led the way for the Lady Panthers with her second straight double double. She led the team with 15 kills and 14 digs in the match. Fellow senior outside hitter Mya Broome added eight kills while junior Chidera Wilson added seven kills. Defensively, the Lady Panthers were also impressive with seven total blocks. Junior Taneja Robinson finished the night with three total blocks (one solo).
The opening set was the toughest of the match for the Lady Panthers. For much of the set, neither team managed to go ahead by more than two points when the Lady Panthers allowed Columbia College to go ahead, 18-16. It was then that the Lady Panthers answered in a big way when they went on a four-point run to take a 20-18 lead. From there, the two teams battled to a 23-23 tie before a three-point Claflin run closed out the set, 25-23.
There was far less drama in the second set when the Lady Panthers jumped out to a 7-1 lead and never looked back. After going ahead by as many as nine points, 16-7, the team allowed the Koalas to get as close as five points, 10-5 before cruising to the victory.
There was even less drama in the third set. The Lady Panthers put the set away early when they took a dominating 11-4 lead. The team went on to go ahead by as many as 10 points, 19-9 before they closed the match with a 6-1 run that sealed the win.
With the win, the Lady Panthers improve to 2-0 overall. The team will return to the road for their next action when they head to Fort Valley, Georgia to take on former SIAC foes, Fort Valley State. For more information on Lady Panther volleyball, contact the Claflin University Office of Athletics Media Relations at (803) 535-5548 or log on to www.athletics.claflin.edu.