Box Score COLUMBIA, S.C. – Albany State rallied from a big, early deficit in the third game to help propel the Lady Golden Rams to a 3-1 victory over the Benedict College volleyball team in a battle for first place Friday night.

Albany State won 25-22, 21-25, 25-22, 25-23 to improve to 11-9 overall and 10-2 in the SIAC. Benedict fell to 12-3 overall and 11-2 in the SIAC.

"We just had a mental breakdown," Rouse said, dumbfounded over the collapse in the third game. "We started being too careful."

Benedict had an early lead in the first game, before Albany State rallied to take a 19-16 lead. Albany State had a 23-20 lead before the Lady Tigers cut the lead to 23-22 on a kill by Terae Sweeting and a cross-court kill by Tatyana Robinson. But a kill by Albany State's Jasmine Mitchell made it 24-22 and a Benedict attack error gave the first game to the Lady Golden Rams.

Benedict took control in the second game. A kill by Leao put Benedict ahead15-8 and a block by Sweeting and Asia Bailey made it 20-13. Albany State staged a late rally to cut the lead to 23-21, but picked up a point on a ball handling error by Albany State, and Leao clinched the game when she rolled a soft attack over the Albany State blockers for the final point.

The Lady Tigers continued their strong play at the start of the third game, going ahead 11-2. Je'Nae Saunders had back-to-back aces, and Robinson had a pair of kills in that early spurt. But Albany State started chipping away at the deficit and tied the game at 13. The Lady Golden Rams scored four straight points to take a 19-15 lead. A kill by Robinson and a point for an Albany State net violation cut the lead to 22-20. Albany State pulled ahead 24-21 on a kill by Jillian Anderson. A kill by Leao made it 24-22, but Leao served the ball into the net for game point.

Benedict had trouble coming back from that emotional letdown, and fell behind 15-9 in the fourth game. The Lady Tigers came back to cut the lead to 22-20 on a pair of kills by Leao and a block by Bailey. A service error and an attack error by Albany State made it 23-22, but Anderson gave Albany State a point with a block. A kill by Leao cut the lead to 24-23, but Anderson finished the game with another kill.

Robinson led Benedict with 13 kills, while Sweeting and Leao each had 12. Saunders had 22 digs and seven service aces, while Ashley Jackson had 39 assists. Benedict hit just .069 for the match and had 20 blocking errors against the strong Albany State hitters.

"They had some girls who could pound it," Rouse said. "And we weren't very aggressive the entire match."

Anderson led Albany State with 15 kills, while Ashley Johnson had 13. Kaliah Carter had 20 digs. The Lady Rams had 15 blocks, with Amber Gatling recording 5.5.

Benedict is back in action on Tuesday, hosting Clark Atlanta at 6 p.m. Clark Atlanta defeated Benedict 3-1 in their first meeting this season.