PRAIRIE VIEW — The Prairie View A&M volleyball team defeated the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff in straight sets for their fourth straight win on Sunday in the Baby Dome.
Set scores were 25-15, 25-17 and 26-24. The Lady Panthers have not dropped a set during their current win streak.
"Resilient would be the word," Head PVAMU volleyball Coach TaCho Tyler said. "We (the coaches) were letting them know that Pine Bluff wasn't going to lay down after winning two sets. Tamia Hightower came off of the bench and really gave us two timely blocks. We've been battle tested all year, so being down wasn't really a big feat for us. We just have to keep executing and get back to our original game plan, and we did that tonight."
In the first set, the teams battled to a 7-7 stalemate before PVAMU pushed ahead 10-7 thanks to a couple of offensive gaffes by UAPB. The Lady Lions pulled within one, but senior right side hitter CeTara Carter engineered a dominating 13-2 run for the Lady Panthers, who ultimately ran away with the first frame.
The Lady Panthers came out strong in the second period, taking a quick 4-0 lead over the Golden Lions. UAPB managed to surge to an 11-9 lead, but the Lady Panthers battled back as the sides traded points briefly. With the set tied at 15, Prairie View A&M took control for good thanks to three kills from junior middle blocker Victoria Pearson and a trio of aces from senior outside hitter Brenda Duran during a 9-1 Lady Panthers run that ultimately decided the frame.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff started quickly in the final set, building an 11-7 lead. With the Lady Panthers forced to play catch-up, Prairie View managed to scrap together a late 11-2 spurt – as powered by Carter and Tamaira Armstrong – to complete the sweep, fending off a potential UAPB set point with a 4-0 match-ending run.
Carter led the team with 14 kills, one block and one dig. Pearson followed with eight kills, one digs and one block. Freshman middle blocker Hannah Estupinan also contributed with five kills, one dig and one block.
Next up:
The Lady Panthers step outside of league play for a midweek tilt versus Huston-Tillotson University. The teams will play on Dig Pink Night on Wednesday, Oct. 16 at 6:30 p.m. in the Baby Dome.
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