PRAIRIE VIEW, TX -- The Prairie View A&M Panthers volleyball team could not overcome an opposing Lady Wildcats offense Sunday at home losing to Bethune-Cookman in a SWAC conference play. Despite a valiant effort, the Panthers fell 0-3 to the Wildcats in a closely contested battle.
The game kicked off with a tight first set, where the Panthers narrowly lost 23-25. The subsequent sets saw similar intensity but ultimately ended in 20-25 and 22-25 losses, respectively. Key players like Kylee Owens and Aliyah Levert made significant contributions, with Owens achieving an impressive 19 kills and 17 digs, while Levert added 10 kills and contributed defensively with a block. The defense saw notable performances from players like Jade Coates and Leah Lawson, who also stood out with 23 assists.
The Lady Panthers were led by a double-double from Owens, who registered 19 kills and 17 digs on the day. Aliyah Levert also added 10 kills to help the offense. On the defensive end, Leila Smalls chipped in for with 19 digs to go with one block from Levert.
A key moment in the match occurred at the end of set 3, determining the game point in a thrilling climax to the match. Despite the loss, the Panthers showed strong resilience throughout the battle. Looking forward, the Panthers are set to face Alabama State on October 28, 2024, at the William J. Nicks 'Baby Dome' for a 6:30 pm first serve. With a season record of 9-15 and 6-3 in SWAC matchups, the team is determined to bounce back and build on their performances.
Game Notes
» Leah Lawson had a team-high one ace in the loss.
» Kylee Owens registered a double-double with 19 kills and 17 digs
» Kylee Owens had a match-high 19 kills for Prairie View A&M.
» Prairie View A&M got a match-high 19 digs from Leila Smalls.
» Prairie View A&M attackers were helped by a match-high 23 assists from Leah Lawson.
How It Happened
SET 1 | The Lady Panthers found themselves in an early deficit, losing a nail-biter first set 25-23. Prairie View A&M trailed by as many as six points as Bethune-Cookman grabbed the advantage for good at 8-7 in a set that was knotted up two times before the Lady Wildcats took over the lead.
SET 2 | A 25-20 second-set loss put Prairie View A&M behind 2-0 in the match. Bethune-Cookman grabbed the advantage for good at 19-18 in a set that was tied up nine times before the Lady Wildcats took over in the second half of the stanza.
SET 3 | Bethune-Cookman finished the sweep with a third-set victory. The Lady Panthers fought back from a seven-point deficit at 14-7, but Bethune-Cookman held on to win the set 25-22.
