PRAIRIE VIEW – The Prairie View A&M volleyball team returns to action with designs on building upon its strong start to league play as it hits the road for matchups against Grambling State and Southern.
The Lady Panthers (4-17, 4-1 SWAC) take on the Lady Tigers (5-12, 2-3 SWAC) at 5 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 5, and will face the Jaguars (4-13, 4-1 SWAC) at 6 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 6.
Junior outside hitter Tamaira Armstrong is coming in on a tear, having earned the league's Offensive Player of the Week honors after a dominant weekend of play. Armstrong set a career high with 27 kills – the most by any SWAC player in a single-match this season – during the team's win over Alabama State and has put away at least 10 kills in five of her past six matches.
Junior middle blocker Victoria Pearson leads the way with 206 kills (2.64 per set) on a .262 attack percentage. Pearson and Armstrong (199 kills on a .205 hit percentage) both rank among the SWAC's top five in kills and points. Senior right side hitter CeTara Carter (150 kills) leads the team with 41 blocks.
Setters Erica Jimenez (315 assists; 4.32 per set) and Jakarta Hope (311 assists; 4.71 per set) have been impressive in directing the offense, and freshman libero Skyla Childs continues to anchor the defense with 335 digs.
Scouting the Competition:
- Dating back to 2010, Prairie View A&M has enjoyed a 16-4 head-to-head record versus Grambling State, but the Tigers have had the Lady Panthers' number as of late. Prairie View hasn't won in Grambling since 2015, and the Tigers have won three of the past four meetings between the teams.
- Linzy Woods leads Grambling with 64 kills (.255 hit percentage) and 32 blocks, but senior Chasity Nicks is the team's most proven offensive threat. Nicks averages 2.11 kills per frame, which leads the team. Kalee Caldwell and Sheila Borders have combined for 236 assists. Kabria Dame paces the Tigers with 94 digs, followed by Caldwell (80). The Tigers lead the SWAC in opponent hitting percentage (.190).
- The Lady Panthers will try to halt six-game road losing streak to the Jaguars, as PVAMU has not beaten Southern in Baton Rouge since 2012. Prairie View A&M has won two of the past three meetings between the sides.
- Jada Carter's 78 kills is tops among Jaguar players, and Shelby Jolly is close behind with 56 kills. Brianna Hawkins (43 kills, team-high 20 blocks) and Arabella Hall (39 kills, 19 blocks) have shown to be formidable two-way players in the middle. Orchestrating the offense is Princess Stark (206 assists), who also leads the team with 74 digs while Hawkins is second with 61.
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