TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- The Florida A&M volleyball team put together a strong collective effort Friday, battling back to earn a 3-1 victory over Prairie View A&M on the road at the Al Lawson Multipurpose Center and Teaching Gymnasium. After a tough first set, the Rattlers regrouped and relied on disciplined play, clutch execution, and balanced contributions across the roster to flip the momentum. 

Leading the way, Ladonna Trantham and Sydney Whitfield each recorded impressive double-doubles, providing the spark and stability FAMU needed on both sides of the ball. Their performances anchored a united Rattlers squad that stayed composed through long rallies, tightened defensively, and found rhythm offensively to close out three straight sets. Together, their efforts highlighted the depth, resilience, and teamwork that fueled Florida A&M's hard-fought win. 

The Rattlers were led by the double-doubles from Trantham, who had 11 kills and 10 digs, and Whitfield, who had 14 kills and 12 digs. Farah Farooq added 12 kills to help the offense. On the defensive end, Sydney Humes chipped in with 14 digs to go with seven blocks from Farooq. 

Game Notes 

• Ladonna Trantham and Sydney Whitfield each registered double-doubles in the win. 
• Sydney Whitfield had a team-high 14 kills for Florida A&M. 
• Florida A&M got a team-high 14 digs from Sydney Humes. 
• Florida A&M attackers were helped by a match-high 42 assists from Makenzie Taylor. 

How It Happened 

SET 1 | Florida A&M opened the match with a competitive first set but ultimately came up short 25-20. Prairie View A&M inched ahead and held a narrow lead. Despite trailing by as many as six, FAMU stayed within striking distance throughout, setting the stage for the momentum shift that followed in the later sets. 

SET 2 | Florida A&M answered with grit in the second set, grinding out a thrilling 29-27 win to even the match at 1-1. The Rattlers stayed composed through a tightly contested set, refusing to let the momentum slip. With neither team leading by more than three points, FAMU's poise in pressure moments made the difference as they closed out the set and swung the match back in their favor. 

SET 3 | Florida A&M continued to build momentum in the third set, securing a 25-21 victory to take a 2-1 lead in the match. The Rattlers seized control early at 5-4 and carried that command the rest of the way, never allowing Prairie View A&M to regain rhythm. FAMU closed the frame on a high note, stretching its largest lead to four points while racking up an impressive 15 kills. The front row anchored the effort defensively as well, turning away four Panther attacks to help seal the set and strengthen the Rattlers' hold on the match. 

SET 4 | Florida A&M closed out the match in impressive fashion, claiming a 25-21 victory in the fourth set to secure their third straight set win. After overcoming a brief two-point deficit—Prairie View A&M's largest lead of the frame—the Rattlers took control for good at 11-10. FAMU's composure and consistency made the difference.