COLUMBIA, S.C. - The Allen University Volleyball team suffered a heart-wrenching loss at rival Benedict College on Thursday night falling in five thrilling sets inside HRC Arena.

BC won the first set 25-20 before Allen came back to take the second 25-21 on 16 kills hitting .316. BC then upped their lead to 2-1 with a 25-22 set three win as each team totaled 10 kills before AU dominated set four 25-9 behind 10 more kills hitting .269. Set five then saw the Lady Tigers unfortunately hold off the hard-charging Jackets 15-11 to win the match.

Allen totaled more kills than the Tigers by a lot, 55-43 while recording a better attack percentage overall (.142 - .081). AU also scored more total points in the match 103-95. However, BC was perfect from the floor on the attack in the pivotal fifth set hitting .438 with zero errors. Allen did hit .300 in the final set with nine kills, two more than the Tigers, but committed more errors. Allen also registered more service aces (10-5) and assists (50-41) in the match than Benedict.

AU was led by sophomore outside hitter Maliyah Spencer and freshman right side hitter Dacia Lowery with 11 and 12 kills respectively while Spencer hit .219 and Lowery attacked at a .184 clip with two blocks and five digs. Junior Middle blocker Taylor Lawrence also played well, tallying 8 kills and 4 solo blocks to hit .190 while freshman outside hitter Tahmiah Lawson recorded 8 kills but committed nine errors.

Freshman libero Myra Lopez, the current SIAC Def. Player of the Week played well again registering 31 digs along with 5 assists and an ace while senior setter Kayla Chambliss recorded a double-double of 33 assists and 16 digs on the night. Chambliss also added 8 kills and a team-high five aces on her solid night. Senior OH Natalia Maciejewska  also grabbed nine digs with two aces and two kills.

Allen falls to 8-7 with the loss and 3-7 in the SIAC while Benedict improves to 11-3 and 8-3 in the conference.
Allen will next return to action on Tuesday when they go on the road to Orangeburg to battle the D-1 SC State Lady Bulldogs at 7:00 PM.