MONTGOMERY, AL -- In a dominating display of skill and teamwork, the Prairie View A&M volleyball team needed only three sets (26-24, 25-23, 25-23) to defeat the Alabama State Lady Hornets, securing a decisive 3-0 victory on September 7, 2024, during their regular season match-up in Montgomery, AL. The win marks a significant moment for the team, showing their prowess in pressure situations and hinting at a promising season ahead.
The match unfolded with PVAMU showcasing their resilience and tactical superiority from the start. The first set was a nail-biter, ending with Prairie View clinching it 26-24. They continued their momentum in the subsequent sets, winning both with close scores of 25-23, demonstrating their ability to maintain composure under pressure.
Key performances were seen across the board. Kylee Owens, D'Mya Hill, and Iyonna Sherwood led the team in kills, with Sherwood also being pivotal in blocks alongside Kiersten Atkinson and Janyah Henderson, who notably assisted in blocking. Defensive efforts were bolstered by Leila Smalls and Aliyah Levert, with crucial digs that kept Prairie View in contention throughout. D'Mya Hill stood out with her serving, landing the team valuable aces that helped secure their sets.
The strategic setups by Leah Lawson, MaKinzie Taplin, Tayler Ruffin, and Smalls were instrumental in the team's successful attacks, reflecting a well-rounded team effort. Coach Cheri Lindsay expressed pride in her team's performance, citing the tournament as a valuable learning experience and a confidence booster against high-caliber teams like Arizona State and TCU. "I was very proud of the team throughout the tournament," said Coach Lindsay. "They learned a lot and grew as a group. They gained a lot of confidence in this tournament as well. The team understands that they can compete with the big teams! This is great preparation for teams like Arizona State and TCU because it teaches us to control the ball on our side of the court and stay aggressive when attacking."
Looking ahead, Prairie View A&M University is set to face UCLA on September 12, 2024, in Fort Worth, Texas. With their current record standing at 1-6 and 0-0 in the SWAC, the team is eager to maintain their momentum and showcase their improved gameplay against upcoming challenging opponents.
The Lady Panthers attack was paced by D'Mya Hill, who finished with 15 kills on the day while accumulating a hitting percentage of .429, and by Kylee Owens, who had 14 while hitting .258. got nine digs from Hill to lead them defensively.
Game Notes
» Hill had a match-high three aces in the win.
» Hill had a match-high 15 kills for Prairie View A&M.
» Prairie View A&M got a team-high nine digs from Hill.
» Prairie View A&M attackers were helped by a team-high 15 assists from Lawson.
How It Happened
SET 1 | The Lady Panthers took the first set 26-24 propelled by a strong showing on the attacking end. Prairie View A&M registered a .303 attack percentage with 16 kills in the set victory. After the lead changed hands six times, the Lady Panthers took control for good at 20-19 and rode that advantage to victory.
SET 2 | Prairie View A&M took set two 25-23 to quickly grab a 2-0 lead. The Lady Panthers took the lead for good at 14-13 in a set that featured nine ties and six lead changes.
SET 3 | Prairie View A&M finished off the match in a 3-0 sweep after taking the third set. The Lady Panthers persevered past a furious Alabama State rally in the set, holding on to win 25-23 after leading by eight points at 16-8 earlier in the stanza.
