COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Benedict College volleyball team won their ninth straight match, defeating Paine College 3-0 on Thursday night.

Benedict won the match 25-12, 25-17, 25-22, improving to 20-10 overall, 9-5 in the SIAC. Paine College falls to 13-12, 8-8 in the conference.

Benedict honored three seniors in the final home match of the season, and all three had big games in their final home match. Adrionna Washington led the Lady Tigers with 17 kills, while V'Aira Harris added nine kills and seven digs. Taylor Stephens had three kills and two blocks. Junior Daija Walton contributed with eight kills.

Benedict jumped out to a 15-5 lead in the first set, cruising to a 25-12 victory. In the second set, scoring went back and forth until the Lady Tigers went on a 13-6 run, capped off by a kill from Harris for the final point.

Harris led off the third set serving seven consecutive points, giving Benedict a 7-0 lead. After the Lady Tigers took an 18-10 lead, the Lady Lions went on a 10-3 run to pull within one point, 21-20. Two Paine attack errors gave the Lady Tigers a 23-20 lead. Harris scored the match-winner on a kill.

Benedict will be participating in the SIAC Volleyball Championship beginning Monday in Spartanburg, S.C. Benedict will be the second seed on the East Division, and will play the third seed from the West Division at 1 p.m. Official pairings will be released by the SIAC on Saturday.