GRAMBLING, LA -- The Prairie View A&M volleyball team totaled 14 blocks on the way to a three-set win (25-22, 25-21, 25-12) over the Alabama State Lady Hornets Friday at Fredrick C Hobdy Assembly Center. In a spectacular display of skill and teamwork, the team clinched a decisive victory in the post-season event, with the Lady Panthers showcasing their dominance on the court.
The match scores were closely contested in the first two sets with the Panthers edging out the Lady Hornets 25-22 and 25-21. Momentum firmly shifted in favor of Prairie View A&M in the third set, which they dominated 25-12. Key players such as Kylee Owens, D'Mya Hill, and Kiersten Atkinson were instrumental, with Owens leading the offense with a remarkable 13 kills and 10 digs on the day
Defensively, the Panthers were solid, amassing a total of 14 blocks throughout the competition. Janyah Henderson stood out with her exceptional performance of 9 blocks. Additionally, the defensive efforts were supported by noteworthy digs from Leila Smalls and Kylee Owens, each contributing 10 digs.
Coach Cheri Lindsay praised her team's performance, stating, "The ladies played really well tonight and I am proud of them. We've made it to tomorrow and I am excited to see what we do!" This win propels Prairie View A&M to a semi-final match-up against Jackson State, maintaining a strong seasonal record of 17-15, with a conference record of 13-3 in the SWAC.
The Prairie View A&M Panthers look forward to continuing their post-season journey, drawing closer to their goals with each victory. Fans and supporters are eagerly anticipating the next encounter, hoping for another stellar performance by the Panthers.
D'Mya Hill also added 10 kills to help the offense. On the defensive end, Leila Smalls chipped in with 10 digs to go with nine blocks from Janyah Henderson.
Game Notes
» Henderson had a team-high one ace in the win.
» Henderson had a match-high nine blocks.
» Owens registered a double-double with 13 kills and 10 digs
» The Prairie View A&M front row did a great job defensively, picking up 14 blocks in the match.
» Prairie View A&M never trailed on the way to winning the second set 25-21.
» Prairie View A&M never trailed on the way to winning the third set 25-12.
» Prairie View A&M attackers were helped by a match-high 19 assists from Tayler Ruffin.
How It Happened
SET 1 | The Lady Panthers opened up an early one-set-to-none lead, winning the first set 25-22. Prairie View A&M never trailed by more than five points and grabbed the advantage for good at 14-13 in a set that showcased three lead changes before the Lady Panthers took over in the second half of the stanza.
SET 2 | After their win in the first set, Prairie View A&M put themselves on the cusp of a sweep with a 25-21 victory in set number two. The Lady Panthers scored first and never trailed in the set to secure the victory. Prairie View A&M opened up as much as a seven-point lead at 11-4 before finishing off the set. The Prairie View A&M offense also got a boost from three aces in the stanza. Prairie View A&M's front row had a solid defensive performance, blocking five Alabama State attacks in the stanza.
SET 3 | Prairie View A&M then ended the match with a victory in set number three. The Lady Panthers took a 1-0 lead and never looked back in the set to secure a 25-12 victory. Prairie View A&M ended on a high note, claiming its biggest lead, 13 points, to finish off the set. Prairie View A&M's front row had a solid defensive performance, blocking six Alabama State attacks in the stanza.
