ORANGEBURG, S.C. — South Carolina State delivered a strong all-around performance Tuesday night, sweeping crosstown rival Claflin 3-0 inside Dukes Gymnasium in Round 1 of the Battle of the Burg.
The Lady Bulldogs captured the match by scores of 25-23, 25-12 and 25-23, improving to 5-5 on the season. Claflin fell to 3-8. The match was played in front of an announced crowd of 750.
SC State controlled the offensive numbers, finishing with 46 kills and a .366 hitting percentage, while holding Claflin to 30 kills and a .114 attack percentage. The Lady Bulldogs committed just 12 attack errors on 93 attempts and also finished with 40 assists, 35 digs, four team blocks and four service aces.
Kenna Harris led a balanced Lady Bulldog attack with 11 kills on 18 attempts, hitting .444 while adding four digs and a block assist.
Amani Hawkins followed with 10 kills and a .381 hitting percentage, while
Hedia Lewis produced eight kills and hit .429.
Taelyn Graham was nearly flawless offensively, recording seven kills without an error on 14 swings for a team-best .500 hitting percentage.
SC State's setters kept the offense moving throughout the night.
Arianna James handed out a match-high 20 assists, while
Macey McCoy added 16. Defensively,
Ki'ra Wright and
Jordan Dalland each collected eight digs, with Hawkins adding seven.
The opening set proved to be a battle, featuring 13 ties and five lead changes. With the score even at 23, SC State closed out the final two points to secure a 25-23 victory and take early control of the match.
The Bulldogs took command in the second set. SC State jumped ahead early and never allowed Claflin to establish momentum, limiting the Panthers to just five kills and a minus-.120 hitting percentage en route to a convincing 25-12 win. SC State hit .321 in the frame and sided out at an 83% rate.
Claflin challenged again in the third, but SC State answered down the stretch. After the teams were tied at 23, Graham delivered a kill to put the Lady Bulldogs at match point before Harris finished the night with the final kill for another 25-23 decision and the straight-set victory.
SC State saved its best offensive set for last, pounding out 18 kills while hitting .419 in the third. Harris was perfect in the frame with six kills on six attempts, Graham added four kills on six swings, and Hawkins and Lewis contributed three kills apiece.
