MOBILE, Ala. -- The Miles volleyball team earned its first wins of the 2024 campaign after splitting four matches this weekend at the SIAC Western Cluster hosted by Spring Hill. The Lady Bears dropped a four-set match against Kentucky State on Friday before sweeping LeMoyne-Owen. Today, Miles (2-11, 2-6 SIAC) had some trouble with Spring Hill in another four-set match before closing out the weekend with a five-set thriller against Lane.

Kentucky State 3, Miles 1 (18-25, 25-18, 25-17, 25-13)

After jumping out to an early lead, the Lady Bears could not finish on the offensive side, hitting just .066 over the four games. Miles hit .267 in the opening set and got help as KSU committed nine attack errors. But as the Thorobreds started to find their rhythm offensively, it was Miles that could not find its consistency on offense as Kentucky State swept the final three sets. Laylah Sanders (9-4-24) and Kendall Townsend (7-4-23) led the Lady Bears' attack, Kayla Trawick (six kills, 12 digs) had a solid two-way effort and Aaliyah Sanders has a team-high 25 digs for Miles.

Miles 3, LeMoyne-Owen 0 (25-17, 25-16, 25-18)
The Lady Bears got interim head coach Reaucheandra Matthews Scott her first win by playing their best offensive game of the season. Miles hit .313 and made just eight attack errors in the sweep. Sanders (11-0-15) was nearly perfect, Kandace Griffin (10-1-22) was not far behind, and Kayla Hill recorded her first double-double (18 assists, 10 digs).

Central State 3, Miles 1 (25-13, 19-25, 25-10, 25-17)
The Lady Marauders' blistering attack (15 kills, .464 hitting percentage) caused Miles fits in the opening game before the Lady Bears settled down to take Set 2. Unfortunately, CSU found its rhythm again in the third set (16 kills, .714) before the Lady Bears began to wilt in the final game, hitting -.114 as a team. Sanders had a team-high eight kills, Griffin and Zion Williams each added six kills and Hill finished with 18 assists and five aces for Miles.

Miles 3, Lane 2 (19-25, 25-17, 25-20, 19-25, 16-14)
This match went back and forth and came down to a tiebreaker in the final set. In the end, Miles was able to lean on its solid all-around play from several players to close out the match. Tied at 14, Griffin's kill put the Lady Bears ahead before a Lane attack error pushed Miles over the top. Trawick (10 kills, 10 digs) and Griffin (13 kills, 15 digs) both posted double-doubles, Sanders had a match-high 23 digs and dual setters Hill (19 assists) and Saraih Taylor (14 assists) kept the offense moving throughout.

UP NEXT - Miles will participate in the SIAC West Crossover in Memphis, Tenn. beginning on Oct. 25