SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Benedict College Lady Tigers volleyball team defeated Central State University 3-1 on Monday night in the SIAC Volleyball Conference playoffs at the Upward Star Center.

Benedict won the match 25-21, 25-22, 19-25, 25-22 to improve to 21-10 overall and stretching their winning streak to 10. Central State (10-21) picked up its first lost in the double elimination tournament.

Senior leaders V'Aira Harris and Adrionna Washington led the Lady Tigers with 62 total attacks, 22 combined kills, and 14 total digs. Daija Walton added nine kills and three blocks.

After a back and forth affair between the Lady Tigers and Lady Marauders throughout the first set, Benedict scored four unanswered points, capped off by a block from Washington. This allowed the Lady Tigers to take a 23-18 lead. Central State cut the lead to 24-21, but Washington scored on a kill to secure the set.

In the second set, Benedict found themselves down 20-14 and with little momentum. A 10-0 run, led by Jordan Reeves and Harris, catapulted Benedict to a 24-20 lead. Kayla Stephens would end the set on a kill.

In the third set, a kill by Harris closed the gap to 17-16. Central State would then go on a 7-0 run to extend their lead to 24-16 and lead them to a third set victory.

The Lady Tigers would bounce back in the fourth set. A 5-0 run extended their lead to 9-5 early in the set. Benedict countered any Central State run. Benedict used a three-point burst late in the match, getting kills from Walton and Washington and an attack error by the Lady Marauders, to take a 23-19 lead. A kill from Washington would secure the match and allow the Lady Tigers to advance to the next round.

Benedict will play Spring Hill College on Tuesday at 10 a.m. at the Upward Center in Spartanburg, S.C. A win in that match would put Benedict in a winner's bracket match at 4 p.m. A loss would put Benedict in a loser's bracket match at 1 p.m.