Box Score
COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Benedict College volleyball team claimed a 3-0 victory over Fort Valley State in its final home game of the 2013 season on Friday night on Senior Night.

The Lady Tigers won the match 25-20, 25-20, 25-16. Benedict improved to 14-6 overall and 12-4 in the SIAC. Fort Valley State fell to 10-23 overall and 6-9 in the SIAC.

Terae Sweeting had 11 kills, while Lorena Leao added 10 kills for the Lady Tigers. Je'Nae Saunders had 18 digs and Ashley Jackson had 37 assists. Jackson and Asia Bailey, Benedict's two seniors, were recognized during the match.

Benedict won after having lost four of its last five games.

The first game was tied at 16-16 when Benedict scored four straight points to take a 20-16 lead. Sweeting, Tatyana Robinson and Jocolby Brown all had kills in that span. Another kill by Brown made it 24-19. Benedict won the first game on a service error by Fort Valley State.

Benedict jumped out to a 12-6 lead in the second game, but Fort Valley State rallied to cut the lead to 16-14 on a block. But the Lady Tigers scored the next three points for a 19-14 lead. Fort Valley State cut the lead to 22-20 on a block, but Benedict closed out the game with three straight points, with Bailey and Robinson teaming up on a block for the final point.

The third game started out close, with the score tied three times, with the final time at 12-12. The Lady Tigers pulled away, going on a 6-1 run to take a 20-14 lead. Leao had a pair of kills, and Jennifer Anderson and Liyah Davis each had an ace. Sweeting had a pair of kills to close out the match.

Benedict coach Gwendolyn Rouse said this was a good chance for the team to get some confidence heading into next week's season ending match at Albany State and then the SIAC Tournament, which will also be in Albany, Ga.

"Today, they played OK, but not like they're capable of playing," Rouse said. "If we beat Albany, that would give us a good boost going into the tournament. I compare this team to the team I had in 2007. We went to the tournament and beat everybody, and lost in the championship in five games. This team reminds me of the 2007 team. I think we can make a run in the tournament."

The Lady Tigers face Albany State next Friday. The SIAC Tournament begins Nov. 21.