WVB Tourney: Alabama A&M eliminates PVAMU, 3-2
SWAC.org
BATON ROUGE, La. - Alabama A&M knocks off Prairie View A&M 3-2 during an elimination match Saturday afternoon at the Horace Moody Complex. Set scores include: 25-23, 25-18, 27-25, 25-17 and 15-7.
Prairie View A&M (9-18) entered the elimination match after falling to Alabama State during match 4 and Alabama A&M now (13-19) was defeated by Southern University earlier today at the Cliford Seymour Gymnasium.
Prairie View's Candyce Alexander led the match with a triple double, 16 kills, 24 assists and 11 digs. Alabama A&M's Kyanna Sales led the team in kills with a total of 26. Megan Butler recorded 46 assists and Ashundria McNeal led the team in digs with 20.
The first set of the match was back and forth action between both teams. The score was tied most of the set, but an error by Prairie View gave Alabama A&M a one point lead,16-15, forcing PVAM to take a timeout. A service error by Callie Percival tied the score once again, but the Bulldogs would not let that hinder them as they went on a 4-0 run, pushing the score 21-17. A massive kill from A&M's Kyanna Sales would put them only three points from a set victory, 22-18. Several errors by the Bulldogs would give the Panthers hope, cutting the lead to only one point. Following a service error from Chandler Bacon would make it match point for Alabama A&M. Unexpectedly, Kyanna Sales would return a service error, but a kill from Ashundria McNeal would allow AAMU to take the first set win, 25-23.
Continuing with the second set, both teams proved to be determined for a win. Eventually, Prairie View would take a 10-5 lead. An error from the Bulldogs would give PVAMU a 23-16 lead. A double hit error from Mariah Cox sends Alabama A&M to requesting a timeout to regroup with being down five points. The Panthers would not let up and went on to winning the second set 25-18.
Megan Butler started things off in the third set for the Bulldogs with a service ace. Alabama A&M lead by five points, 20-15, until Prairie View capitalized on their errors, cutting the lead, 20-18. A kill from Candyce Alexander would tie the set 24-24. The teams rallied back and forth but an error from Sales would give the Panthers the win, 27-25.
Alabama A&M set the tone for the fourth set. They jumped out on PVAM with an 8-2 lead, causing Prairie View to take a timeout. After a blocking error from AAMU, the lead was cut to three points, 14-11, the Bulldogs way. Alabama A&M would go on to increase the lead to 20-12. After a kill, the Bulldogs would be up for set point. Robyn Hancock would produce a kill, claiming the set for Alabama A&M, 25-17.
The Bulldogs went on a 4-1 run starting the fifth and final set off. An error from PVAM would give AAMU a 15-7 final set victory eliminating Prairie View A&M from the 2014 Women's Volleyball Tournament.
Alabama A&M will continue their journey to a SWAC Championship title Sunday, Nov. 23.
Visit tournament central for more game day action.