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PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas – The Prairie View A&M Lady Panthers fended off three consecutive match points and went on to claim a thrilling five-set win Thursday over visiting Alabama State.
 
Scores of the match were 22-25, 25-20, 21-25, 25-20, and 17-15.
 
Candyce Alexander (Bedford, Texas/Missouri State – West Plains) posted a double-double to lead the Lady Panthers, knocking down a match-high 17 kills and recording 10 digs. She also registered six total blocks and accounted for a season-best 22 points in the match.
 
Ana Kiso (Belgrade, Serbia/Panola College) handed out 40 assists and dug eight opposition attacks. LaKeisha Allen (McAllen, Texas/Rowe HS) led the PVAMU defensive effort with 21 digs.
 
Rachel Smith led Alabama State with 13 kills. Erika Thompson tallied 23 digs for the Lady Hornets (4-14).
 
The Lady Panthers (4-11) outscored the defending Southwestern Athletic Conference champions 10-3 to close out the fifth set. The Lady Hornets 12-7 and had victory in their sights, but the Panthers rallied for four consecutive points thanks to two Alabama State errors and kills from Alexander and Lenecia Tyson (Baltimore, Md./Humble [Texas] HS).
 
Alabama State then scored two points to set up match point at 14-11. With Kylee Cornelio (Mililani, Hawaii/Laredo CC) at the service line, the Panthers successfully staved off elimination on three consecutive points thanks to a bad ASU set, two attacking errors and a kill by Alexander. PVAMU tied the match at 14 when Alexander and Tyson blocked Myla Marshall.
 
Another attack error by Alabama State gave the Lady Panthers a 15-14 lead, but Alabama State fended off their first match point. But a long extra frame was not in the works as Alexander knocked down her 17th kill of the match for a 16-15 lead. Moments later, another attack error by the visitors completed the Lady Panthers' come-from-behind triumph.
 
Tyson finished the match with nine kills and five block assists. Mariah Cox (Denver, Colo./New Mexico Military Institute) added eight kills off the PVAMU bench, while Haley Dibbern (Bay City, Texas/San Jacinto College) and Jasmine Lewis (Rowlett, Texas/Rowlett HS) each had five kills. Cornelio dug eight opposition attacks for the Lady Panthers.
 
The Lady Panthers return to action Friday when they host Jackson State in another SWAC inter-division match. (Only matches against the SWAC's West Division count in the conference standings.) First serve between the Panthers and Tigers is scheduled for 5 p.m.