COLUMBUS, GA.- On the second day of the Columbus State Invitational, the Valkyries Volleyball team picked up their first win of the new season in a thrilling five set victory over Clark Atlanta.

Converse (1-2) came out flat in the first set seeing the set go to Clark Atlanta 25-12.  The Valkyries rebounded behind the play of Kassie Burkett, Journee English, Leslie Gonzalez and JaLesa Beaver on the offensive end.

English posted 11 kills, while Burkett, Beaver and Gonzalez finished with 10, 9, and 8 respectively.

Burkett posted her first career-double-double adding 21 assists and nine digs, missing out on a triple-double.  Deanna Unger added 23 assists and eight digs.  Vivica Nogueira posted a season-high 23 digs.

Both team battled back and forth as the Valkyries won the second and fourth sets to force a deciding fifth set.

After jumping out to a 3-0 lead the Panthers rallied back to tie things at 6-all. From there the lead never got above two points as the score was tied at 17-17.  A kill by Journee English gave the Valkyries a 18-17 advantage.  JaLesa Beaver put up the serve with the Panthers hitting their attack into the hands of Leslie Gonzalez for the Valkyries win.

The Valkyries split on Saturday after dropping their first match of the day in straight sets to Columbus State.

Converse continues on the road as they take on Chowan and Coker in a tri-match on Septmeber 9 in Hartsville, S.C.