COLUMBIA, S.C. – Playing for the third night in a row, the Benedict College Lady Tigers volleyball team got off to a slow start and dropped a 3-1 decision to Clark Atlanta University on Friday night.

Clark Atlanta won 25-22, 25-20, 17-25, 25-19 to improve to 6-5 overall and 5-4 in the SIAC. Benedict falls to 8-6 overall and 4-4 in the SIAC.

The Lady Tigers got off to a quick 5-1 start in the first set, but Clark Atlanta slowly fought back to tie the score at 11-11, then took its first lead at 13-12. The Lady Panthers scored three points in a row to take a 19-15 lead. Benedict was able to cut the lead to 22-21, but Clark Atlanta scored the next two points. Benedict scored on a kill by Kaiah Green, but Clark Atlanta sealed the first set on a kill.

The Lady Tigers fell behind early in the second set, facing a 12-4 deficit. Benedict rallied to tie the score at 18-18. The Lady Panthers used a late four-point run to give them set point, 24-19. Benedict scored on a Clark Atlanta attack error, but the Lady Panthers scored on the next play to take a 2-0 lead.

In the third set, Clark Atlanta got off to an early 6-3 lead, but the Lady Tigers regrouped and scored nine of the next 10 points for a 12-7 lead. A 6-0 run later in the set gave Benedict a 20-11 lead. Benedict had a 24-14 lead before Clark Atlanta scored the next three points. The Lady Tigers finished off the set to claim their only set of the match.

Benedict took an early 8-5 lead in the fourth set before Clark Atlanta scored four straight points to take the lead. The Lady Panthers later used a 7-0 run to build a 17-10 lead and held on for the 25-19 win and clinch the match.

Cana Smith led Benedict with 12 kills. Amber Scott had 20 digs and Ashleigh Reeves had 32 assists. Green had a team-high four blocks.

Benedict will return to action on Tuesday with a home match against Claflin. The match starts at 6 p.m. in the Benjamin E. Mays HRC Arena.