Volleyball Caps Off Senior Night With Emotional Win Over Prairie View A&M

Texas Southern fought to very last point as they withstood a late rally by Prairie View A&M to claim a 3-2 decision and its fourth straight win Thursday night in the H&PE Arena.

Set one saw TSU break open the game midway through the set as they took advantage of several PVAMU errors combined with solid offensive production for a 25-17 win. The Tigers wasted no time in setting the tone in set two as they jumped out to a 10-3 lead as Danielle Lilley recorded five kills during the run. Prairie View A&M fought back and closed to 13-9 but the Tigers pulled away as they outscored PVAMU 12-7 to claim a 2-0 lead in the match.

With a chance to sweep, TSU and Prairie View A&M were neck-and-neck to open set three as the set was tied 14-all midway through. Prairie View A&M’s Tamaira Armstrong began to heat up with five of the next nine points as the Lady Panthers broke open the contest en route to a 25-21 win. Set four saw Prairie View A&M continue its momentum as they led most of the set but TSU fought back and claimed a 19-18 lead after a pair of PVAMU attack errors. Prairie View A&M’s Victoria Pearson broke the tie with a kill but a PVAMU service error tied the set at 20-all. The teams would tie once again at 21-all but Prairie View A&M created a three-point cushion which TSU couldn’t fight back from as they won set four 25-22.

The Tigers held on for dear life in the deciding set as they led 3-1 but saw Prairie View A&M fight back to tie. It was a see-saw affair with five ties as fatigue was beginning to set in down the stretch for both teams. TSU dug deep as Danielle Lilley recorded back-to-back kills for a 13-11 lead coupled with an assisted block with Radka Brichackova for match point. Prairie View A&M’s Victoria Pearson drew them to within 14-12 but Lilley put the match away for good with a kill of a Breyanna York set.

Lilley had a solid night with 26 kills and three assisted blocks. Alexis Austin closed out her final game at home with 18 kills and eight digs followed by 13 kills from fellow senior Nia Stone. York had a huge night with 60 assists and 13 digs along with a 28-dig effort from Valencia Grayson and 19 from Alyssa Chuidian.

TSU concluded its 2019 home schedule 4-0 inside the H&PE Arena and will head to Arkansas for a pair of games as they’ll face Henderson State on Sunday and Arkansas-Pine Bluff Monday night.