Paul Quinn Volleyball Secures Hard-Fought 3-1 Victory Over Philander Smith

Fast Start from the Tigers

Paul Quinn came out aggressively in the opening set, hitting .295 as a team. Led by Carrie Weston's 19 kills on .311 hitting, the Tigers built momentum early and took control with a 25-19 win. Setter Spirit Phipps directed the offense masterfully, dishing out 37 assists while keeping Philander Smith's defense off balance.

Philander Smith Battles Back

The Panthers showed resilience, with Aleria Lane (16 kills, .359 hitting) and Ja'Niya Sanders (10 kills, 12 points) providing consistent scoring. After dropping the first two sets, Philander Smith responded in the third, playing their cleanest volleyball of the afternoon with a .333 attack percentage. Their front-line defense also came alive, led by Angelle Thibeaux's eight blocks, which helped them take the set 25-21.

Closing It Out

Paul Quinn refused to let momentum slip away. Behind another strong offensive push, the Tigers sealed the match in the fourth set, 25-21. Defensive standout A'Niyah Harrison anchored the back row with 29 digs, frustrating Philander Smith attackers and keeping rallies alive.

Key Performances

• Carrie Weston (PQ) – 19 kills, .311 hitting, 19 points
• A'Niyah Harrison (PQ) – 11 kills, 29 digs, double-double performance
• Spirit Phipps (PQ) – 37 assists, 14 digs
• Aleria Lane (PS) – 16 kills, .359 hitting, 18 points
• Angelle Thibeaux (PS) – 4 kills, 8 blocks

Stat Breakdown

• Team Kills: Paul Quinn 59, Philander Smith 45
• Attack %: Paul Quinn .208, Philander Smith .174
• Digs: Paul Quinn 94, Philander Smith 77
• Blocks: Philander Smith 22 block assists, 2 solo vs. Paul Quinn's 2 block assists

The win improves Paul Quinn's Red River Athletic Conference record to 4-1, keeping them in strong contention early in the season. Philander Smith, despite the loss, showed flashes of dominance at the net and will look to regroup as it continues conference play.