BOX SCORE 1 | BOX SCORE 2 A slow start crippled the Prairie View A&M volleyball team in a 3-0 loss to Cal State Bakersfield to close out the first day of competition at the Long Beach State Baden Classic in Long Beach, Calif.

It took two sets for the Lady Panthers to play competitive volleyball on Friday night. Bakersfield won the first two sets 25-11 and 25-12. It seemed to be on the way to running away with the third set too, but the Lady Panthers rallied to put up a fight.

Prairie View A&M closed the gap by going on a 7-2 run after trailing 22-13 in the third set. Freshman middle Lenicia Tyson and junior middle blocker Magda Zietek tallied two kills each during the run as the Lady Panthers cut their deficit to 24-20. However, Prairie View A&M ended the match on an attack error.

Senior setter Kelsey Espinos lead Prairie View A&M with 18 assists and provided four digs.

The Lady Panthers were competitive with Oregon State to start the first set in their first match. A block by Lenicia Tyson and Jade Nelson on the Beavers' Amy Sorenson cut Prairie View A&M's deficit to 9-8. However, Oregon State embarked on a 10-2 run to pull ahead 19-10 following an attack error by sophomore outside hitter Rachel Owens. The Lady Panthers were unable to recover from that blow and dropped the first set 25-15.

They fell victim in the ensuing sets in similar fashion as they lost the match 25-15, 25-16, 25-17. Junior middle blocker Magda Zietek and junior right side Candyce Alexander provided six kills each for Prairie View A&M, which tied for a team high. Alexander also came through with six digs to bring her two-match tournament total to 18.

Prairie View A&M (2-14) will try to pull an upset over tournament host Long Beach State (6-6) in the final match of the tournament at 7 p.m. on Saturday.