NORMAL, Ala. -- Miles was competitive throughout its second match of the season against Alabama A&M on Saturday morning, holding leads in two of the three sets and being in position to extend the match past its three-set outcome.

But the Lady Bulldogs (4-1) had runs of at least five points in each set en route to a sweep (25-20, 25-9, 25-22) that handed the Lady Bears (1-1) their first loss of the season. Miles hit progressively better in each set, finishing the match at .163, including a strong third set (16-5-38, .289). But AAMU was able to dominate on the attack, hitting .382 over all and .533 in the second set.

Miles led 17-12 in the opening set but an 11-1 run, which was aided by three attack errors by the Lady Bears, put AAMU ahead to stay. Jaida Lloyd (24 assists) set Karea Copeland and Kayla Trawick to give the Lady Bears a chance before the Lady Bulldogs closed out the first game. The second set got away from Miles quickly, with just one kill as AAMU jumped out to an 11-2 advantage and the Lady Bears would not get closer than eight points the rest of the way.

In the final set, early finishes by Copeland and Kiersten Hight, followed by a kill and service ace by Addisyn Doss posted Miles to an early 8-4 lead. The set was tied at 11 before Alabama A&M scored five straight points to forge ahead. The game remained tight and when Hight finished a set by Lloyd, the Lady Bears trailed just 23-22. But the Lady Bulldogs, who hit .400 in the final set, fed Nissan Martinez (19-3-33, .485) on back-to-back points to finish the match.

Copeland and Kori Brown each had a team-high eight kills, Eliyah McIlwain had 10 digs, and Hight finished with five kills and three solo blocks for the Lady Bears, who will play a tri-match at West Alabama, facing Southern Wesleyan at 4 p.m. and UWA at 7 p.m.