The Clark Atlanta University Lady Panthers began their 2019 season with a 3-1 victory over visiting Talladega College in Friday night at L.S. Epps Gymnasium. The Lady Panthers snuck up on the competition last season but this year they come into the non-SIAC and SIAC calendar with high expectations.
Clark Atlanta won the first two sets 25-16 and 25-17 and seemed to be easing into their first victory of the season before Talladega College, a private HBCU in Alabama and an NAIA program, took the third set 25-22. Despite having the edge in kills (43-36), aces (13-6) and overall assists (39-32) the Lady Panthers had to go to a fourth set in order to secure the victory. Clark Atlanta won the fourth and final set 25-19.
Senior outside hitter Ashley Elmore led the way for Clark Atlanta with four blocks to go with her nine aces. Junior transfer (Fort hays State University) Amirah Bentley, a setter, added eight kills and 14 digs to go along with her team-high 26 assists in her Lady Panthers debut. Another Lady Panther making her debut in front of the home fans was freshman Lauryn Terry. Making her way to Atlanta from Holland Hall High School in Oklahoma, Terry, an outside hitter, had a team-high 11 kills.
Clark Atlanta will be back at Epps to play their second game of the season when they host SIAC rival Claflin University on Wednesday, Sept. 11 at 6 p.m.
