BOX SCORE
Despite a season-high 11 blocks, Prairie View A&M dropped a close 3-1 match to McNeese state Monday night in Lake Charles.
The Lady Panthers came out firing on all cylinders in Game 1 on the way to a 25-18 win. Tied at 14 in the first set, Prairie VIew A&M got back-to-back kills from middle Charae Caldwell and outside Bruna Menezes to take a 16-14 lead. A few possessions later Caldwell came away with another kill with an assist from junior setter Kelsey Espinosa to cap off a 5-1 run by the Lady Panthers to take a 20-5 lead. They followed it up with a up with a 5-3 run to close out the set.
Caldwell had a perfect-1.000 kill percentage, going 5-for-5 in the first set. Her production, however, dropped off as she finished with a .038 attack percentage. She and Espinosa led the Lady Panthers defensively on the night, combining for 12 block assists.
McNeese State turned its game around following that first set. The Cowgirls bounced back with a dominating 25-15 Set 2 win and won an emotional Set 3 by a score of 25-23. Prairie View A&M lost the fourth set 25-20 and the match despite double-digit kill performances by Menezes (10 kills, .292 attack percentage) and Breanna McNeil (11 kills).
Espinosa finished with 35 assists, which marked the three-time defending SWAC Newcomer of the Week's eighth game this season with 28 or more assists. She has five games under belt this season with 35 or more assists.
The Lady Panthers return home to face Huston-Tillotson Tuesday night and then they will play hosts to McNeese State on Thursday in the William Nicks Building. Both games start at 7 p.m.
