PRAIRIE VIEW – The Prairie View A&M volleyball team will look to kick off their fall 2021 season when they take on Lamar University in their first of three matches this weekend at the Katrinka Crawford Invitational on Friday. 

The Lady Panthers will look to pick up right where they left off last season after posting a 12-3 record and just missing out on a SWAC regular-season title with a 10-1 conference record. The Panthers won seven of the last eight matches with their season coming to an end in the conference tournament semifinals.
 
PVAMU will meet ULM, a member of the Sun Belt Conference on Friday at 4 p.m., before taking on Oral Roberts a member of the Summit League on Saturday for a first serve at 10 a.m.
 
Ready to see some other faces besides their own during two-a-day practices at the William J. Nicks Building, head coach TaCho Tyler is excited to get the season underway.
 
"We are excited to get the season going," Tyler said.  "We are prepared to compete this weekend and I'm looking forward to seeing the team play against an actual opponent and not just themselves."
 
The Lady Panthers will have to be ready to play and play well in order to keep pace with its opponents this weekend. 
 
"Tournaments prior to conference play are always tough," said Tyler.  "We just have to work hard and do what is needed on our side of the net."
 
Unlike the 2021 spring season when the Lady Panthers returned majority of its starters, this fall will feature some new players wearing the purple and gold.  PV has six freshman on its roster, and two transfers who may have an opportunity to make contributions right away.
 
"I expect to learn the good and bad makeup of our team and how to proceed forward," Tyler said.  "I'm just excited to get started.
 
The first game in Beaumont is set for Friday at 1 p.m. against host team Lamar at the McDonald Gym.
 
Scouting the Opponents
Lamar

• Will be looking to improve upon a tough 2020 campaign
• The Cardinals posted a 1-16 overall record in the spring with the lone victory coming in conference competition.

ULM

• Will also be looking to build from a disappointing 2020 campaign.
• Monroe won just one match, which was its season opener before dropping the remainder of their matches last year.

 
Oral Roberts

• Are looking to build from a disappointing 2020 campaign.
• ORU posted a 3-15 (.167) mark last season.
• The Golden Eagles closed the COVID-19 shortened season with only one win in their final 12 matches. 

Keep up with all the latest news and information for PVAMU athletics by following pvpanthers.com as well as through Twitter and Facebook via the PVAMU general sports account (@PVAMUPanthers). You can also follow along on Instagram.com/pvamupanthers.