BOX SCORE BOX SCORE
It didn't feel like a 3-0 defeat. Prairie View A&M seemed to be able to match Texas Southern's intensity and answered rallies with runs over its own. However, in the final moments of each set TSU managed to make separation, and the Lady Panthers dropped a 25-23, 25-20, 32-30 decision on Thursday night in the William Nicks Building.

Junior outside hitter Candyce Alexander, senior middle blocker Janette Batista and freshman right side Lenicia Tyson were among the Prairie View A&M players to raise their offensive play in the absence of the Southwestern Athletic Conference second-leader in kills (218) and second-leader in total blocks Magda Zietek.

Senior setter Kelsey Espinosa, who finished with a game-high 39 assists, looked for Alexander most of the night and it paid dividends. Alexander finished with a career-high 19 kills on 43 attacks in a rivalry match that lived up to the hype. Batista and Tyson ended the night with 10 and eight kills respectively.

After dropping the first two sets by a combined seven points, Prairie View A&M did everything in its power to keep the match alive in Set 3. There were nine lead changes and 18 ties in the third set alone. Alexander tallied seven kills in the third as she tried to force a fourth set and keep the Lady Panthers in the game. However, Prairie View A&M hurt itself in the final moments of the match.

The Lady Panthers( 8-21, 2-3 SWAC) held a 27-26 lead, and Texas Southern (9-8, 4-0 SWAC) closed the game out on a 6-3 run with a little help from the home team. TSU scored four of its final six points off of Prairie View A&M errors to pull away and take the match.

Prairie View A&M will try to recover on Monday night with a victory over Southern. The game is set to serve off at 5 p.m. in the William Nicks Building, and the Lady Panthers are 2-1 vs. Southern this season.