PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas- The Prairie View A&M University Lady Panthers volleyball team has officially reported to camp as they are set to begin preseason workouts. Last season PVAMU concluded the season in first place in the Southwestern Athletic Conference’s Western Division. The Lady
Panther volleyball team is entering this year of competition focused on the goals they and the coaching staff have set out to achieve. Last season PVAMU made it to the semi-final round of 2007 Southwestern Athletic Conference volleyball title for the second consecutive year. Prairie View A&M is now looking to build on last seasons’ success and once again emerge as champions as they did in 2006. With the loss of some contributors from last seasons’ squad PVAMU returns this year with several new and talented players after an impressive season of recruiting. “I’m extremely excited about this team,” said PVAMU head volleyball coach Alicia Pete. “We were able to bring in some exceptional young ladies that will blend well into our program with the experienced players that we return.”
With some key parts of the foundation of the team back the Lady Panthers are hoping their experience and new talent will pay off as the season opens. “We have emphasized the importance of playing as one and as a team this season,” said PVAMU head coach Alicia Pete. “It will be critical that our young ladies go out and perform if they want to have a chance to compete for a championship. In the Southwestern Athletic Conference there’s a lot of parity so it will be important that we approach each game with the same amount of focus and intensity.”
Leading the Lady Panthers attack will be returnees Erin Fondel (pictured top left), Michelle Paul, and Shaun Williams. Sharonda Marshall, Jessica Adedipe, and Stephenie Iwuala round out the list of Prairie View A&M returning players. This season Prairie View A&M’s coaching staff will consist of head coach Alicia Pete (10th season), assistant coach Emil Chudian (7th season), and graduate assistant Shannon Harrison (1st season). With a solid coaching staff in place as well as a talented bunch of newcomers Prairie View A&M should be able to once again compete among the SWAC’s elite.
