COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Albany State University women's volleyball team continued its impressive 2026 campaign Wednesday evening, defeating Allen University in four sets (25-17, 23-25, 25-23, 25-9) at Adams Gymnasium to secure its 20th victory of the season.
With the victory, the Golden Rams improved to 20-8 overall and 14-1 in Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) play, extending their winning streak to 11 consecutive matches.
The victory marks Albany State's first 20-win season since the 2023–24 campaign, highlighting the Golden Rams' continued success under head coach Verniece Graham.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Albany State opened the match with a strong offensive performance, taking the first set 25-17. The Golden Rams recorded 10 kills while hitting an impressive .353 to establish early momentum.
Allen responded in the second set, capitalizing on Albany State's offensive struggles to claim a narrow 25-23 victory and even the match at one set apiece.
The third set featured a competitive battle between the two SIAC programs. Albany State delivered 15 kills and held off Allen for a 25-23 victory, taking a 2-1 advantage heading into the fourth set.
With the match on the line, the Golden Rams delivered their most dominant performance of the evening. Albany State controlled the fourth set, recording 14 kills on a .407 hitting percentage while limiting Allen to just four kills and a -.115 hitting percentage. The Golden Rams cruised to a commanding 25-9 victory to seal the match.
GOLDEN RAMS STANDOUTS
Jarianis Perez led Albany State offensively with 13 kills on a .375 hitting percentage, adding 10 digs and two service aces.
Amiria Anderson followed with 12 kills while hitting .429, contributing to the Golden Rams' balanced offensive attack.
Shaniya Banks provided a strong presence at the net, finishing with eight kills on a .429 hitting percentage, three solo blocks and two block assists.
Maya Ogbogu added six kills, three service aces and five solo blocks, while Aleiah Carr contributed seven kills.
Albany State's setters played a key role in distributing the offense, with Trinity Britt recording a team-high 25 assists and Liannette Burgos adding 20 assists and three service aces.
Defensively, Myra Lopez led the Golden Rams with 15 digs, while Perez contributed 10.
As a team, Albany State finished with 50 kills, 50 assists, 10 service aces and a .243 hitting percentage.
A MILESTONE SEASON
Wednesday's victory represents another significant accomplishment for the Golden Rams as they continue their strong run through SIAC competition.
Reaching the 20-win mark for the first time since the 2023–24 campaign, Albany State continues to demonstrate its growth, consistency and determination throughout the 2026 season.
UP NEXT
The Golden Rams return home on Tuesday, October 27, to host Clark Atlanta University in SIAC action at the Jones Brothers HPER Complex in Albany, Georgia. First serve is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. as Albany State looks to extend its 11-match winning streak in front of its home crowd.
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ABOUT ALBANY STATE ATHLETICS
Albany State University is a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II-level intercollegiate athletic program. The university currently fields teams in 12 sports: women's volleyball, women's tennis, women's cross country, men's and women's basketball, softball, men's and women's indoor and outdoor track and field, baseball, and football, with all teams competing in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC).
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ABOUT THE SOUTHERN INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETIC CONFERENCE (SIAC)
The SIAC is an NCAA athletic conference consisting primarily of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) headquartered in downtown Atlanta, Georgia. The SIAC includes 15 member institutions (Albany State University, Allen University, Benedict College, Central State University, Clark Atlanta University, Edward Waters University, Fort Valley State University, Kentucky State University, Lane College, LeMoyne-Owen College, Miles College, Morehouse College, Savannah State University, Spring Hill College and Tuskegee University), which are located within a contiguous seven-state footprint (Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, South Carolina, Tennessee and Ohio). The SIAC sponsors nine men's and eight women's sports and is a proud member of NCAA Division II. For more information, visit www.thesiac.com.