Prairie View denies Southern

 
The Southern Jaguars volleyball team let go of its grip of claiming their first conference win, losing 3-2 at home against Prairie View Monday.
The victory became the Lady Panthers third straight after sweeping Grambling 3-0 twice this season.
“We had our feet on their throat,” head coach Nathaniel Denu said after the contest. “We gave them the confidence level that that they needed to win.”
The Lady Jaguars last won against Arkansas-Pine Bluff during their 28^th annual Volleyball Invitational, which began Friday and ended Saturday.
All matchups were considered non-conference and counted towards the teams’ overall record.
However, SU was defeated in the semi-final round by Jackson State, who eventually claimed the tournament title after defeating Alabama State.
Denu added that the winner of the tournament usually goes on to win the conference title, which was won by JSU in 2011, winning their last 25 contests before a shutout loss in the NCAA tournament against the University of Nebraska.
“We have to continue to focus on defensive play,” Denu said. “Everybody knows that defense wins matches.”
Breanna McNeil led the Panthers with 21 kills and 14 digs, tying a season high. She hit .300 and had one block.
For SU, Jaquel Watts and Jacquia Bell tied with nine kills.
“We kind of let it get away from us,” assistant coach Tacho Cloud said after the contest. “It was good to see them fight all the way through.”
The Panthers defense managed to closeout the fifth set with a 7-0 scoring run that began with a kill shot by McNeil, who had four in the final round.
SU brought set five within four for a score of 15-11.
At times the Lady Jaguars took control of set five, tying the match three times. It was in the second and fourth sets where SU took control of the match, winning 25-21, 25-22.
SU fell behind and never recovered in set three.
The Panthers opened with a 15-4 scoring run led by McNeil, who scored the final point in the set for a score of 25-12.
“We kept the same rotation but I needed somebody to go in and lead,” Cloud said. “I think in the first couple of games, our senior Breanna took that lead. But I think, defense is what kept us going.”
The Lady Jaguars return Wednesday at home against the University of New Orleans, who defeated SU 3-0 Sept 26. The Privateers also won Monday night, defeating Arkansas Pine Buff 3-0.
“In our division we’re 0-2,” Denu said. “Prairie View was picked to win the division and we were picked to come out number three.”