COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Benedict College Lady Tigers knocked off Albany State 3-2 in an SIAC women's volleyball match on Friday night in the Benjamin E. Mays HRC Arena.

Benedict improves to 15-8 overall and 8-5 in the SIAC. Albany State, the top team in the SIAC East Division, falls to 14-10 overall and 10-3 in the SIAC. Benedict won the match by scores of 25-15, 25-22, 17-25, 20-25, 15-9.

The match started more than an hour late as Albany State was late arriving. The Lady Tigers took advantage once the match started and jumped out to the first five points and had a 10-2 lead. Albany State cut the lead to 15-12, but Benedict then scored six points, including a pair of kills by Cana Smith, for a 21-12 lead. Smith closed out the set with a service ace.

The second set was close, with Albany State holding a 15-14 lead before the Lady Tigers scored seven of the next eight points for a 21-16 lead. Albany State came back to tie the score at 22-22, but Benedict closed out the set with the final three points, including the final two points on kills by Ashleigh Reeves.

The third set was tied at 13 midway through the set. Albany State scored 10 of the final 13 points to take the set 25-17. Albany State then took the fourth set 25-20 to force a deciding fifth set.

Benedict scored four of the first five points in the final set for a 4-1 lead and never looked back. A pair of kills by Kaiah Green gave Benedict a 12-6 lead. A kill by Smith made it 14-9, and Benedict closed out the match with an Albany State attack error.

Smith led the Lady Tigers with 16 kills and also had 11 digs for a double-double. Ashleigh Reeves also had a double-double with 40 assists and 18 digs. Amber Scott led the team with 23 digs, while Jordan Reeves added 22. Daija Walton had a season-high six blocks.

Benedict closes out its home schedule on Tuesday against Fort Valley State at 6 p.m. The match will be Senior Day for Benedict's five seniors.