Prairie View, Texas – Alabama State could not hold on and fell, 3-2 (25-22, 25-22, 22-25, 16-25, 9-15) to Prairie View A&M in Southwestern Athletic Conference volleyball action in the second day of the SWAC West Roundup on Saturday evening.
 
The Lady Hornets (3-14, 0-3 SWAC) began the match hot claiming the first two sets from the Panthers (3-14, 3-0 SWAC) but struggled to continue their momentum in the final three stanzas. The match was very tough for both teams as there were 27 ties and eight lead changes.
 
Senior Bayle' Bennett finished the match with a double double in a season-high 19 kills and 10 digs. Freshman Madison Beasley also posted a double double, her third of the season in 24 assists and 10 digs.
 
Junior Taira Cottingham and sophomore Taryn King both posted double-digit kills in 13 (.324) and 12 (.435), respectively. Freshman Emersen Belles racked up a season-high 22 digs alongside a season-high tying three assists and one service aces.
 
Set One (Alabama State 25, Prairie View A&M 22)
The first set was a tough battle from beginning to end as there were nine ties and four lead changes. Trailing for most of the set, Alabama State came back to tie the score at 18 for the last tie of the set and fought hard to end on a 7-4 run to claim the second. The Lady Hornets held Prairie View to a .051 hitting percentage and forced seven errors.
 
Set Two (Alabama State 25, Prairie View A&M 22)
Alabama State controlled the momentum early in the set as it gained a 9-4 lead that eventually went to 17-10 but the Panthers did not let up. Prairie View came back within four points at 22-18 but the Lady Hornets kept calm to take the second set. Cottingham recorded five kills in the set while Bennett followed behind with four.
 
Set Three (Alabama State 22, Prairie View A&M 25)
Prairie View kept a tight lead for majority of the set including holding on late after Alabama State fought back to trail by just one (22-21) late in the set. The Panthers took the set by holding Alabama State to a .162 hitting percentage and only allowed nine kills.
 
Set Four (Alabama State 16, Prairie View A&M 25)
Alabama State stuck with Prairie View all the way until the 9-9 mark then the Panthers used an 8-4 run to gain a lead that it would not relinquish. The Lady Hornets struggled offensively recording 10 kills with eight errors.
 
Set Five (Alabama State 9, Prairie View A&M 15)
The Lady Hornets could not get in an offensive rhythm in the set as the team was only able to secure six kills and hit .120. Alabama State fought hard tying the score six times but the Panthers ended the game on a 6-0 run to seal the deal.
 
 
Up Next
Alabama State will take on Southern University at 5:30 p.m.
 
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