The Lincoln University volleyball team fell in straight sets (25-15, 25-21, 25-18) to Virginia State Monday in Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association action inside Manuel Rivero Hall.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• It was a set of runs early as each team took a turn in rattling off a series of points, and with sophomore Haley Loper (Middletown, Del./St. Georges Technical) serving Lincoln took the 11-10 lead. However, VSU tallied six straight and 12 of the next 15 to seize control and eventually win the opening set.
• Lincoln scored the first five points of the second set, but the Trojans creeped back into the match, and then seized control with eight straight to take the lead. Neither team scored more than a couple of point consecutively, thus Lincoln couldn't make a run to reclaim the lead.
• The Lions made a late charge in the third and final set, but a Virginia State timeout stemmed the charge, and the Trojans were able to seal the win.
• Junior Erica Taylor (Romulus, MI/Romulus Summit Academy) finished with six kills on 11 attempts and just two errors (.364), while sophomore Haley Loper (Middletown, Del./St. Georges Technical) added six kills on 19 attempts.
• Freshman Janaa Smith (Rochester, N.Y./Our Lady of Mercy) recorded a team-high 13 assists, and sophomore Jaida Lumpkin (Middletown, Del./Middletown) added eight assists.
• Sophomore Mariah Webster (Detroit, Mich./Cass Tech/) finished with a team-high nine digs and three service aces.

WHAT'S NEXT

• Lincoln returns to the court Saturday and Sunday for the CIAA Round-up, hosted by Bowie State. Lincoln faces Fayetteville State 9 a.m. Saturday, before facing Claflin 9 a.m. Sunday and Livingstone 3 p.m. Sunday.