ITTA BENA, MS -- In an impressive display of dominance on the court, the Prairie View A&M volleyball team needed just three sets (25-9, 25-18, 25-20) to defeat the Mississippi Valley State Devilettes Monday on the road at Harrison HPER Complex. This victory bolsters the Lady Panthers' season record to 7-13, including a promising 4-1 in SWAC play.
From the outset, the Lady Panthers took control of the match, opening the first set with a crushing 25-9 win. They continued their strong performance into the second set, taking it 25-18, and sealed their victory with a 25-20 win in the third set. These crucial game points, especially those leading to set and match wins, were highlighted as key moments of the match.
Henderson finished with 10 kills on the day to lead the Lady Panthers offense while finishing with a hitting percentage of .6. got 11 digs from Leila Smalls to lead them defensively.
The team saw exceptional contributions from players in various roles. Janyah Henderson, D'Mya Hill, and Kiersten Atkinson led the charge with the most kills, shifting the momentum in Prairie View's favor at critical junctures. Defensively, Aliyah Levert and Leah Lawson were instrumental, alongside Atkinson, in putting up effective blocks against the Devilettes' attacks. Notably, Leila Smalls not only contributed significant defensive digs but also scored crucial aces that kept the opponents off balance.
The assists column was rich with contributions as well, with Leah Lawson, Jakya Moore, D'Mya Hill, and Kylee Owens setting up numerous scoring opportunities that were pivotal to the Lady Panthers' offensive strategy. Their efforts in orchestrating the plays earned them additional recognition during the match.
Looking ahead, the Lady Panthers are set to face Grambling State in Grambling, La., on October 13, 2024. As they continue their SWAC campaign, the Lady Panthers carry forward not just a win, but a significant boost in team morale and synergy.
Game Notes
» Smalls had a match-high two aces in the win.
» Henderson had a match-high 10 kills for Prairie View A&M.
» Prairie View A&M got a match-high 11 digs from Smalls.
» Prairie View A&M attackers were helped by a match-high 18 assists from Lawson.
How It Happened
SET 1 | The Lady Panthers took control of the set-one lead at 3-2 and never looked back to win 25-9. Prairie View A&M opened up its biggest lead, 16 points, to finish off the set.
SET 2 | After their win in the first set, Prairie View A&M put themselves on the cusp of a sweep with a 25-18 victory in set number two. The Lady Panthers took control of the set lead early on at 6-5 and never trailed. Prairie View A&M led by as many as eight points at 22-14 before finishing off the set. Prairie View A&M's front row had a solid defensive performance, blocking four Mississippi Valley State attacks in the stanza.
SET 3 | Prairie View A&M closed the match in a 3-0 sweep after grabbing set three 25-20. Prairie View A&M took the lead for good at 15-14 in a set that showcased three lead changes before the Lady Panthers took over in the second half of the stanza.
