FORT VALLEY, Ga. – The Wildcats showed heart battling back on Thursday evening. Trailing by two sets, Fort Valley State claimed the third set, but its charge from behind was not enough as Clark Atlanta held on for the 3-1 women's volleyball win.

The Lady Panthers opened a 16-9 lead in the opening set and fended off the Wildcats, who came back to within a point (20-19) before the 25-22 final. CAU netted four-straight points with a tied game at 9-9 and held the advantage the rest of set number two, 25-19. Tied at 18 in the third set, Jahyra Thomas lined three aces in a row as part of a six-point burst for a 24-18 advantage before Antonique Coleman pounded the final point in the 25-22 score. With a deadlock at 21-21 in the fourth set, the visitors put the final four tallies on the scoreboard to end the match, 25-21.

FVSU drops to 9-4 on the season and 7-4 in the SIAC East, while CAU (8-8) pulls to within a game of it at 6-3 in the East.

Coleman lined eight kills with one error in 16 attacks for a .438 hitting percentage to go with eight total blocks, two digs and an ace. Benaye Kyle added nine kills with a team-hgh 13 digs and an ace. Dakotah Holmes contributed eight kills, two blocks and 12 digs.

Laila Hilton had five kills, two blocks and two digs, while Brooke Matthews downed four kills, two blocks and two digs.

Thomas handed out 15 assists to go with eights digs and three aces. Laiani McCullough had nine assists, two aces and seven digs, while Sarah Rosario dug seven digs, bumped seven assists and served two aces.

FVSU has a week off before it travels to Jacksonville, Fla., for a Friday night, Oct. 25, match at Edward Waters. First serve will be at 7 p.m.

-Wildcats-