PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas –  Prairie View A&M volleyball is fresh off one of its winningest seasons in several years.  On Monday the SWAC announced season rankings.

After a dynamic 2023 campaign that saw the purple and gold post its most regular-season wins (19) and SWAC (13) since 2006 (the last time the program won the conference crown).  The Lady Panthers racked up 183 points overall with two first-place votes.

Last season, the Lady Panthers rolled off an impressive 13-3 mark in the league boasting the best conference record in over a decade.  PVAMU will now look to build on back-to-back seasons with at least 20 victories or more.

"The great thing about our conference is that anyone can win any night,"  Head Volleyball Coach Cheri Lindsay said. "That is also what is so difficult about our conference. You can never count anyone out."

Also released Tuesday morning was the 2024 Preseason All-SWAC Team, featuring a trio of Lady Panthers that saw postseason recognition last season. Senior setter Leah Lawson, junior outside hitter Kylee Owens, and sophomore middle blocker/hitter Janyah Henderson were all selected.

Named SWAC Setter twice, Lawson was selected to the All-SWAC First Team following her first season at Prairie View A&M. The Arlington, Texas native led the conference in assists averaging 8.81 per set, tallying 952 on the season after playing in 108 sets.  Earlier in the season Lawson hit a career milestone of over 2,000 assists.  Her best games were versus Northern Arizona dishing out 53 assists in a match and also against Jackson where she had 19 digs

Owens a sophomore from Culver City, Calif. led the team in kills (361) and was seventh in hitting percentage of .264 (min 3.0).  Owens was second in the conference with a 3.37 kill percentage, as well as second in service aces averaging 0.44 aces per set (47).    

The league's reigning Freshman of the Year, a product of Chicago, Ill. Henderson placed 219 kills, leading the conference in hitting percentage (.383), and tallied 78 blocks (23 solo), making her eighth in the conference.  Her best games were against Jackson State as she managed 15 kills, and against Nicholls where she delivered eight blocks.

The Lady Panthers are slated to kick off the 2024 season with a season-opening trip to Huntsville, Texas for the Sam Houston State Tournament.  PVAMU will square off with host team SHSU at 9:30 am and follow with a 3:30 pm match-up against SFA (Stephen F. Austin) both on Friday, August 30.  The even is set to conclude with a 12:30 pm tilt versus Incarnate word on Saturday, Aug. 31.

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.

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