BOX SCORE

Lake Charles, La. – The Prairie View A&M volleyball team dropped a tough 3-1 decision to Louisiana-Monroe on Friday evening in the opener of the McNeese State Invitational.

Prairie View A&M came out fighting against its Sun Belt Conference opponent as they were neck-and-neck for most of the opening set.  Down 18-16 following a kill from junior Bruna Menezes, ULM pulled away with a 7-1 surge for a 25-19 opening set win.

The Lady Panthers overcame an early deficit in set two and claimed a 10-7 advantage after consecutive kills from Menezes and an ULM attack error.  ULM pulled to within one on several occasions but PV fought back and led by as much as five points.  The Warhawks continued to hang around and chip away at PV's lead as they drew to within 24-23 but ultimately lost the set as they committed an attack error which gave the set to Prairie View A&M.

Set three was a mirror image of the first as PV led early until ULM regained the lead at the midway point.  PV fought back and was down 18-16 but wouldn't draw closer as ULM won the set 25-18. In the final set, PV had a slow start and found themselves down 10 early on.  The Lady Panthers never recovered as ULM claimed the match 3-1.

Breanna McNeil and Menezes posted eight kills apiece while Maria Moulaz tallied 30 assists.  Maegan Coleman had a solid game defensively with four assisted blocks.