SIAC 20^TH ANNUAL VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT BEGINS WITH STRONG EASTERN DIVISION PLAY

Albany, GA – HPER Gymnasium is the site of all the SIAC championship action with Albany State University playing host to the SIAC 20^th Annual Volleyball Championship.  The first rounds have been filled with exciting play, dominating play by the eastern division, a first win of the year by LeMoyne-Owen College and a surprising upset including the western division champion Kentucky State University losing in straight sets to Paine College the #5 seed in the East.  The east dominated the first round action with all eastern division teams advancing to the quarterfinals.

Game 4:  #1 W Kentucky State 0  #5 E Paine 3

The first upset of the day saw Kentucky State University, the western division champions the past two years, make an early departure to the loser’s bracket as they lost to Paine 3-0.  Paine was led by Ala’Torya Cranford who led her team in kills with 10.  All Conference nominee Bianca Starks added 9 kills and 3 defensive digs.  Dwan Kirksey led all with 12 defensive digs for Paine.  Paine would take the first two sets 30-20, 30-20; however in the second set Kentucky State would try to rally and would jump out to a 27-17 lead.  Paine countered that rally with a rally of their own and took game 3 and the victory with a 32-30 win.  Kentucky State was held to just .046 attack percentage and .000 in the second set.  Kentucky State falls to the loser’s bracket and will face Tuskegee to start Thursday’s action.  Paine advances to face the winner of game #5 in quarterfinal action.