CSU beats Miles for first victory of 2019


FRANKFORT, Kentucky -  Playing in the second day of the SIAC West Division Round Up on the campus of Kentucky State University, the Central State Lady Marauders handled Lane in three games to record their first victory of the season.

After being edged by LeMoyne-Owen, 3-2, on Friday night and a 3-1 loss to Lane earlier on Saturday, CSU bounced back well against Miles under new head coach Christina Coleman. CSU fell behind early in the first set, 6-3, but rallied to knot up the score at 13-13. A kill by Essance Andrews sparked a 5-0 CSU run which propelled the Lady Marauders to take the first set, 25-21.


Up 12-11 in the second frame, CSU's Deja Clark record consecutive kills and reserve Tyra Barber added a kill and an ace to increase the CSU lead to 19-13. MC battled back to cut the deficit down to two but committed four attacked errors down the stretch as CSU went on to win the set, 25-20.


CSU controlled momentum for the majority of the third set. Clark served back-to-back aces as CSU jumped out to a 5-1 lead. With Barber serving, CSU rang off five straight points to take a commanding 10-2 lead. Miles responded with a 8-2 run capped off by a Briana Brown service ace to bring the Golden Bears back within two points. MC could not maintain momentum and committed three straight errors. Up 19-16, CSU closed the match on a 6-1 run as Clark blocked a MC attack to seal the victory.


Clark finished with seven kills to lead CSU. Setters Kayla Adams and Adaiah Johnson combined for 20 assists. As a team, CSU combined for 26 kills and 13 errors compared to Miles' performance of 26 kills and 26 errors.


With a record of 1-5 overall and 1-2 in the conference, CSU will continue SIAC play on Saturday with matches against Spring Hill and Tuskegee.