PRAIRIE VIEW, TX -- In an exhilarating SWAC volleyball game held on Tuesday the Prairie View A&M Lady Panthers volleyball team rallied after losing set one to secure a well-fought 3-1 victory against the Alabama A&M Lady Bulldogs at the Baby in Prairie View, Texas.
The game marked an important SWAC win for the Lady Panthers, whose strategy and skilled play led to another step forward in their season.
The match kicked-off with a challenge as the Lady Panthers faced a setback, losing the first set 19-25. Unfazed, they came roaring back, dominating the following sets with scores of 25-11, 25-17, and 25-15. The turnaround was a testament to the team's resilience and tactical proficiency. Key players like Kylee Owens, who led with 10 kills, and Aliyah Levert, who contributed eight kills and five blocks, were instrumental in this comeback. Jade Coates also stood out with a significant contribution of eight blocks and three aces, showcasing the depth of talent within the team.
Leila Smalls had an impressive defensive game with 15 digs, a critical factor in the Lady Panthers' ability to maintain pressure on the Lady Bulldogs. The assist department was well managed by MaKinzie Taplin and Tayler Ruffin, who set up their teammates with 16 and 18 assists respectively. Owens led the team with her 11th double-double of the season registering 10 kills and 12 digs on the day. D'Mya Hill also added eight kills to help the attack. On the defensive end, Leila Smalls chipped in for with 15 digs to go with eight blocks from Jade Coates.
The victory brings the Lady Panthers' season record to 11-15 overall and 8-3 in SWAC play, positioning them as serious contenders. Up next, they will face Southern in Baton Rouge on November 3, 2024, seeking to carry their winning momentum forward.
Game Notes
» Taplin had a match-high three aces in the win.
» Coates had a match-high eight blocks.
» Owens registered a double-double with 10 kills and 12 digs
» Owens had a team-high 10 kills for Prairie View A&M.
» Prairie View A&M got a team-high 15 digs from Smalls.
» Prairie View A&M attackers were helped by a match-high 18 assists from Ruffin.
How It Happened
SET 1 | The Lady Panthers fell behind early, losing a tough first set 25-19. Prairie View A&M trailed by as many as six points as Alabama A&M never gave up the lead in a set that was tied up two times before the Bulldogs took control.
SET 2 | Prairie View A&M fought back from a first-set loss to take the second set 25-11, tying the match at one set apiece. The Lady Panthers never trailed by more than five points and grabbed the advantage for good at 11-10 in a set that had just one lead change before Prairie View A&M took over the lead. The Prairie View A&M offense also got a boost from three aces in the stanza.
SET 3 | Prairie View A&M built on that second-set success with a victory in set number three to open up a lead at two sets to one. The Lady Panthers took the set 25-17 helped by a solid performance on the attacking end. Prairie View A&M registered a .321 attack percentage with 12 kills in the set win. The Lady Panthers ended on a strong note, stretching their lead to its largest point in the set to finish out the stanza. Prairie View A&M's front row had a solid defensive performance, blocking four Alabama A&M attacks in the stanza.
SET 4 | Prairie View A&M closed out the match with a 25-15 fourth-set victory, winning their third set in a row. A solid showing on the attacking side led the Lady Panthers to victory in the set. Prairie View A&M registered a .448 attack percentage with 14 kills in the set win. The Lady Panthers opened up a 23-12 lead in the stanza and coasted to victory from there.
