The Lincoln University volleyball team suffered a tough four-set Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association loss (32-30, 25-12, 22-25, 25-15) to Virginia Union Monday inside Manuel Rivero Gymnasium.

Lincoln had multiple opportunities to claim the opening set, but the Panthers staved off five set-points to secure the 32-30 win.

The teams traded runs as VUU claimed an early lead with five consecutive points, however, the Lions answered with seven straight to reclaim the lead. Neither team was able to put more than two points in between them until Virginia Union had the 23-20 lead.

With freshman Laila Newborn (Ardmore, Pa./Lower Merion) serving, LU scored four straight to be on the cusp of claiming the set for the first of five times. However, Lincoln couldn't get the final point.

Two separate extended runs, 12-2 and 7-1, enabled Virginia Union to cruise to the second-set victory.

The Lions didn't fold and easily go away.

Virginia Union raced out to an early lead, and led by four, before Lincoln started to battle back by scoring six of eight to claim the one-point lead. The Lions tallied nine of the final 12 points for the third-set win.

VUU scored 12 of the first 13 points of the fourth set to breeze to the 25-15 win.

Junior Erinn Taylor (Romulus, MI/Romulus Summit Academy) took full advantage of her opportunities with seven kills on 10 attempts and zero errors, while senior Jasmin Lewis (Baltimore, Md./Western) was also proficient in her chances with six kills in nine attempts and one error.

Sophomore Haley Loper (Middletown, Del./St. Georges Technical) finished with 13 kills on 31 attempts, and junior Erica Taylor (Romulus, MI/Romulus Summit Academy) added 10 kills on 26 attempts.

Sophomore Jaida Lumpkin (Middletown, Del./Middletown) and freshman Janaa Smith (Rochester, N.Y./Our Lady of Mercy) combined for 40 of the team's 43 assists as Lumpkin tallied a season-high 26 assists. Smith added four service aces. Sophomore Mariah Webster (Detroit, Mich./Cass Tech/) led the team with 12 digs and Newborn had one solo block and three block assists.

Lincoln (4-8 overall, 1-5 CIAA) travels to Raleigh, N.C. for the CIAA Round-up. The Lions open the three-match event 1 p.m. Saturday, playing Johnson C. Smith.