SAVANNAH, Ga.- It's not the result they wanted as Savannah State started their three-game homestand with a 3-2 loss to visiting Clark Atlanta in a match played at Tiger Arena on October 27, 2023.
 
The Lady Tigers just finished a four-game road trip and were looking to finishing the regular season on a high note. Instead, Clark Atlanta spoiled those plans, winning the five-set match.
 
SSU opened the match with back-to-back 25-19 wins to go ahead 2-0. Clark Atlanta battled back to even the match at 2-2 with victories of 20-25 and 21-25. The Panthers earned the win in the fifth set, 8-15.
 
Tiana Curry (18) and Allena Norton (17) teamed up for 35 kills and Jessee Grubesic had 43 assists for Savannah State. Curry also had 13 digs. Destiny Gaines and Tori Lasley both had three blocks while Kloe Ludy contributed 26 digs, 4 assists and a pair of aces.Aaliyah Mitchell had 16 digs, 2 assists and an ace.
 
The loss drops SSU to 12-10 overall and 8-9 in conference play.
 
Savannah State fell behind 5-0 in the opening set but used a 8-3 spurt to tie the set at 8-8. Down 13-11, SSU scored the next six points to go ahead 17-13 and went on to win by six.
 
Clark Atlanta built a 11-4 cushion in the second set before SSU stormed back to tie the set at 13. Down 16-13, Savannah State strung together a 5-0 run to take a 18-16 lead and get the win.
 
SSU jumped out to a 11-6 lead in the third set but the Panthers answered with eight straight points to go ahead by three. The Lady Tigers were able to tie the set at 17 but a 7-1 run by CAU set them up to earn the win.
 
The fourth set was back and forth. Savannah State trailed 22-20 but consecutive kills by CAU's Makayla Murphy gave the Panthers some breathing room as they went on to tie the match at 2-2.
 
In the fifth and deciding set, CAU caught fire with a 9-2 advantage while the Lady Tigers could not get any closer than five points.
 
Clark Atlanta, who improves to 16-8 overall and 12-4 in the SIAC, was led by Shynique McGee (18 kills and 19 digs), Dahlia Williams (10 blocks) and Allanah Drayton-Campbell (30 assists).
 
Savannah State will return to action on October 30 when they host Edward Waters in Tiger Arena at 6 p.m.