ORANGEBURG, S.C. – Paine College opened the 2026 women's volleyball season Tuesday evening at Claflin University, falling to the Panthers in straight sets, 3-0 (13-25, 15-25, 21-25), inside Tullis Arena.

The Lady Lions showed steady improvement throughout the night, saving their best volleyball for the third set. After being limited to six kills in each of the first two frames, Paine recorded eight kills against just four errors in the third and hit .235, its best attacking percentage of the match.

Akirah McCrae paced the Lady Lions with six kills on 12 attempts and a team-best .167 hitting percentage. McCrae also contributed three block assists and two service aces, finishing with a team-high 11 points. Jamaya Allen added six kills, five digs and a block assist, while Makayla Leonard finished with three kills. Setter Jamia Seals directed the offense with 19 of Paine's 20 kills coming off assists.

Paine finished the evening with 20 kills, 19 assists, four service aces, 10 digs and four total team blocks. Claflin countered with 30 kills and a .246 hitting percentage. The Panthers were led offensively by Zaniya Harris with 12 kills and Aryanna Connell with nine.

How It Happened

Set 1 – Claflin 25, Paine 13

• Paine scored the opening point of the 2026 season on a Claflin attack error before Allen delivered the Lady Lions' first kill to give Paine an early 2-1 advantage. The teams were tied at 2-2 before Claflin began to create separation.
• The Panthers used an extended run to build a 14-3 advantage. Paine responded later in the frame with a stretch that included kills from Seals, Hayes, McCrae and Allen, but the early deficit proved too large to overcome.
• Allen led Paine with two kills in the opening set, while McCrae added two kills and two block assists. The Lady Lions finished the frame with six kills.

Set 2 – Claflin 25, Paine 15

• Claflin jumped out to a 5-0 advantage before McCrae put Paine on the board with a kill. The Lady Lions continued battling, trimming the deficit to 6-4 following a McCrae service ace.
• Paine later pulled within three at 9-6, but Claflin answered with another run to regain control of the set.
• Leonard provided a spark midway through the frame with consecutive kills, and Paine later scored back-to-back points on a block by Allen and an Allen kill to make it 21-15. Claflin responded by scoring the final four points.
• McCrae and Leonard each recorded two kills in the set, while Seals handed out six assists.

Set 3 – Claflin 25, Paine 21

• The Lady Lions turned in their strongest performance of the night in the third set. McCrae delivered an early kill and service ace, while a Leanard kill helped Paine build a 4-2 advantage.
• The teams traded points throughout the early stages, with Paine pulling even at 6-6, 7-7 and 8-8. Claflin eventually established a 16-10 lead, but Paine refused to go away.
• Trailing 18-14, the Lady Lions put together a three-point surge that included a Valverde service ace to cut the deficit to 18-17. Later, an Allen kill and a Claflin attacking error pulled Paine within two at 21-19.
• Paine stayed within striking distance at 24-21 before Claflin secured match point.
• The Lady Lions hit .235 in the final set with eight kills and only four attack errors. Allen led the attack with three kills, while McCrae added two kills.

By the Numbers

• .235 — Paine's hitting percentage in the third set after hitting -.167 and -.120 in the opening two frames.
• 6 — Kills apiece for Akirah McCrae and Jamaya Allen, who combined for 12 of Paine's 20 kills.
• 19 — Assists for Jamia Seals.
• 4 — Service aces for the Lady Lions, with McCrae recording two and Eden McCarthy and Roselyn Valverde adding one each.
• 4.0 — Total team blocks for Paine. McCrae contributed three block assists.
• 50% — Paine's sideout percentage in the third set, improving from 33 percent in the first and 40 percent in the second.
• 21 — Paine's third-set point total, its best offensive set of the match.
• 1:10 — Match duration in front of 415 spectators at Tullis Arena.

Up Next

Paine returns to Augusta for its 2026 home opener on Wednesday, September 9, when the Lady Lions welcome Clark Atlanta University to the HEAL Complex. First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m.