Albany State volleyball advances to SIAC semifinals

Staff Reports

FORT VALLEY, Ga. — Albany State shook off a third-set loss and held rival Fort Valley State to seven kills in the fourth to win its 16th straight match and advance to the SIAC volleyball semifinals.

The Lady Golden Rams won 25-15, 25-16, 16-25, 25-12 in Tuesday’s quarterfinal at the Health and Physical Education Complex. Albany State (25-8) will face Miles College at 4 p.m. Wednesday at the same venue.

Aleiah Carr and first-team All-SIAC selection Jarianis Perez led Albany State with nine kills apiece. Shaniya Banks, a second-team all-conference pick, added eight kills and four block assists as the Lady Golden Rams finished with 43 kills and a .290 hitting percentage.

Albany State took control early with 13 kills and a .476 hitting percentage in the opening set, then won the second to take a 2-0 lead. Fort Valley State answered with its best stretch of the match, putting away 18 kills and hitting .515 in the third set to force a fourth.

The Lady Golden Rams turned the match back in their favor on defense, holding the Wildcats to a minus-.038 hitting percentage in the final set. Myra Lopez finished with a match-high 15 digs and added three of Albany State’s 11 aces.

Liannette Burgos had 20 assists and Trinity Britt added 18, with each serving three aces. Maya Ogbogu and Amiria Anderson chipped in six kills apiece, and Serenity Jackson matched Banks with four block assists.

Dakotah Holmes led Fort Valley State with a match-high 16 kills. Caytlyn Sanford added 10, and Reagan Mann had 37 assists.