Tamika Newman had 12 kills and three digs while Shaun Williams had 11 kills as Prairie View’s volleyball team routed Huston-Tillotson University in three sets Oct. 9, in front of a crowd of 206 at Mary E. Branch Gym.
“The ladies played very aggressively and wanted to work on some things that will help when they play in the SWAC games,” said Prairie View Volleyball Head Coach Alicia Pete. Tamika Newman echoed the sentiment, saying “it was a great opportunity for us to work on some things before we get back into SWAC play.”
The Lady Panthers doubled the Lady Rams in the first set (30-15), held on for a 30-20 win in the second and finished strong with a 30-13 assault in the final set.
“I applaud our effort in such conditions as their gym,” Newman said. “We were still able to play at our level despite the fact the team we were playing was below our level.”
Ashley Campbell led the team with 12 kills along with six digs, while Millicah Whitaker had 19 digs as Prairie View’s volleyball team swept archrival Texas Southern in three sets at the William “Billy” J. Nicks Fieldhouse Tuesday.
Having jumped out to a 16-9 first set lead after a strong spike by Tamika Newman, Texas Southern rallied to close within 23-19. The Lady Tigers only scored once more, as the Lady Panthers closed the set on a 7-1 run to win 30-20.
The teams played a highly competitive second set, with neither team gaining more than a one point advantage for the first half of the set and no more than four at any point. TSU led 29-28 with a chance to win the set before an errant serve by the Lady Tigers tied the game and the Lady Panthers won the set 31-29 when Nicole Crane hit the ball into the net after a strong spike by Prairie View.
Prairie View took control early in the third set and never looked back, taking its largest lead at 27-15 and finishing the Lady Tigers off 30-19.
The Lady Panthers will host Arkansas Pine Bluff Thursday, Oct. 18 at 6 p.m. and Grambling State Oct. 23 at 6 p.m.