PRAIRIE VIEW – The Prairie View A&M University volleyball team fell to both Idaho State (1-3) and Southeastern La. (0-3) on the opening day of the Katrinka Crawford Invitational Friday.  Before playing Tulane on Saturday morning to close out their final match of the weekend with a 0-3 loss.

"We definitely battled all weekend," head PVAMU volleyball coach TaCho Tyler said.  "We just need to be a little more discipline throughout each set to pull out the win, which will come with time.  We are playing a significant amount of freshmen, so as they mature we will continue to mesh and get better.  We played solid even with two starters out so I am excited to watch this team progress."

Game 1
Idaho St. 3, PVAMU 1 (25-23, 28-30, 14-25, 22-25)

In their first match, freshman outside hitter Kylee Owens led the way for the Lady Panthers, posting 15 kills on 33 attempts.  Owens also served up four aces, with 13 digs.  Freshman Leila Smalls also had a solid collegiate debut finishing with 11 kills, one service ace, one assist and 11 digs.

Senior setter Jakarta Hope led the team with 37 assists and also contributed 15 digs.  While, senior libero Skyla Childs led the defensive scheme with 19 digs, also adding four assists.

The Lady Panthers opened up set one with a 25-23 win.  They began the second set strong, but just couldn't close it out falling 28-30.  PVAMU had a slight set back in set three to finish 14-25, but was able to jump back at it in set four, but the Bengals took the set and the match 3-1.

Game 2
Southeastern La. 3, PVAMU 0 (24-26, 10-25, 22-25)

Much like the Lady Panthers opening match they came out rolling punches as this time Smalls led the team with 12 kills, she also added five digs.  Owens added 11 kills and six digs to her day.  Hope had 21 assists.

PVAMU battled again closing out set one 24-26.  However, set two did not go quite the way the Lady Panthers would have expected as they dropped a 10-25 set to the Lady Lions.  Prairie View just wouldn't lay down as they battled again in set three, but was unable to come away with the win as Southeastern La. came away with a 22-25 set and the 3-0 match win.
 
 
Game 3
Tulane 3, PVAMU 0 (11-25, 20-25, 23-25)

The Lady Panthers struggled in the opening set versus Tulane falling 11-25, but as the next set rolled around they were able to find a bright spot, but not able to get the win dropping set two 20-25.  PVAM battled to the end, but just couldn't get over the hump as the Green Wave took the set 25-23, and the match to close out the weekend.

Owens again took the lead for PVAMU as she finished the match with 11 kills, and two aces.  Smalls added nine kills and seven digs.  Hope added 20 more assists for the tournament.  Hope averaged more than 7.8 assists, 78 total, while Owens and Smalls finished with 37 and 32, respectively. 

Prairie View A&M University returns to action Tuesday at Sam Houston State for a single match in Huntsville, Texas for a 6:30 p.m. first serve.

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