By Alan Wiederhold
HT Athletic Communications
ATLANTA – Huston-Tillotson University's volleyball team gave two strong showings Saturday to conclude play at Clark Atlanta University's Lady Panther Invitational as the Rams split a pair of matches before returning to Texas.
The day began with a four-set win over Talladega (Ala.) before the Rams took the host Panthers of Clark Atlanta to five sets in the afternoon contest.
The Rams will have a week in a half to prepare for their next contest, their 2026 HBCU Athletic Conference West Division opener against Dillard (La.) on Sept. 18. First serve at HT's Branch Gymnasium is scheduled for 6 p.m.
HT RAMS 3, TALLADEGA 1 (16-25, 25-22, 25-22, 25-18)
Huston-Tillotson's lone NAIA opponent for the weekend came from its own conference, as Talladega competes in the league's East Division. The Rams won the final three sets after the Tornados took the opener.
HT sophomores
Lindsey Morris (Fort Worth, Texas / North Crowley) and
Addilynn Webb (Houston, Texas / Wharton County JC) knocked down 13 kills apiece for the Rams in the win over Talladega. Webb hit .375 for the match as she committed only four errors among her 24 attacks.
Jordis Taylor (Vancouver, Wash. / Heritage) handed out 25 assists in the match.
Aniyah Asberry (Baton Rouge, La. / Liberty Magnet) and
Malaya Bennett (Pflugerville, Texas / Hendrickson) led the HT defense with 17 digs and 14 digs, respectively.
The team that hit better in each set was the winning team for all four sets. HT hit particularly well in sets two (16 kills, .333 hitting percentage) and three (16 kills, three errors, .406 hitting percentage).
Jada Arkadie (Converse, Texas / Judson) put away seven kills while committing no errors as she hit .438 for the match. Taylor and
Amaiya Williams (Nacogdoches, Texas / Southwest [N.M.]) had five kills apiece, while Bennett and
Amaya Villegas (Irving, Texas / Saint Mary-of-the-Woods [Ind.]) each served three aces in the match.
CLARK ATLANTA 3, HT RAMS 2 (25-18, 25-21, 11-25, 17-25, 9-15)
The Rams jumped out to a two-set lead before the host Panthers completed a comeback to win the match in five sets.
Webb led the Rams with 11 kills, followed by eight kills apiece from Taylor and Arkadie. Taylor also gave out a team-high 20 assists, while Villegas handed out 10 assists.
Bennett's 19 digs led the Rams defense.
The match was HT's first five-set contest of the season; the Rams last played five sets in the opening round of the 2025 HBCUAC Tournament when they defeated Oakwood (Ala.)
– HT –
