FORT VALLEY, Ga. – The eighth-seeded Benedict College Lady Tigers fell to seven-time SIAC champion Spring Hill College 3-0 in the first round of the 2026 SIAC Women's Volleyball Championship on Tuesday at Fort Valley State University.
Spring Hill won the match 25-18, 25-15, 25-20 to advance to the semifinals, where they will face fifth-seed Tuskegee at 1 p.m. on Wednesday. Tuskegee defeated fourth-seed Edward Waters 3-2 on Tuesday.
Desire' Young led the Lady Tigers with eight kills and three blocks.
Angelic Carter and
Baileigh Tillman had five kills each.
Willow Alls recorded 15 assists.
Jayden Johnson had a team-high nine digs.
Spring Hill jumped to a quick 9-2 lead in the first set. The Lady Tigers were able to chip away at the lead and cut the score to 21-18 on a kill by Tillman. Spring Hill then scored the final four points in the set.
Benedict took an early 6-3 lead in the second set, but Spring Hill rallied with a 4-0 run to take the lead. Benedict retook the lead on three straight Spring Hill errors. A kill by Carter gave Benedict an 11-9 lead before Spring Hill went on an 8-1 run to take a 17-12 lead. Spring Hill finished the set scoring six of the final seven points.
In the third set, Benedict benefited from four straight Spring Hill errors to take a 17-14 lead, but the Badgers scored the next seven points to take the lead and held on for the win.
Benedict ends its season at 13-13 overall and went 9-10 in the SIAC.
