COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Benedict College Lady Tigers volleyball team played their first home match of the season on Tuesday night, and dropped a close and exciting match to Fayetteville State University, 3-2.

After dropping the first game 25-13, Benedict stormed back to win the second game 25-19. Fayetteville State took the third game 25-21, but Benedict staged a late rally to win the third game 25-23 to force the fifth and deciding game. Fayetteville State won 15-11.

Benedict falls to 8-5 overall. Fayetteville State is now 5-2 with their fourth win in a row.

Lorena Leao led Benedict with 13 kills and 18 digs. Terae Sweeting also had 13 kills. LaPromise Boone had 36 assists. Je'Nae Saunders had a match-high 20 digs.

The second game was tied 18-18 when Aaliyah Lawson scored a kill. Saunders  served for the next five points, as the Lady Tigers got a pair of kills from Leao and another from Lawson. Jocolby Brown scored the game-winning point on a kill.

In the fourth set, Fayetteville State was leading 23-20, but Benedict rallied with the final five points of the game, including the game-winning kill by Tatyana Robinson.

The Broncos jumped out early in the deciding fifth game, taking leads of 10-3 and 13-4. Benedict scored five points in a row to cut the lead to 13-9, but Fayetteville State wrapped up the match will a kill by Samira Luis, who led the Broncos with 16 kills.

Benedict is back in action at home on Thursday to face North Greenville University in a non-conference match. The match starts at 6 p.m. and will broadcast on Stretch Internet Radio.