The Virginia Union University women's volleyball team competed in three matches at the West Virginia Wesleyan College Tournament over the weekend, facing tough regional opponents.

The Lady Panthers opened play on Friday, September 12, falling to host West Virginia Wesleyan 3-0. On Saturday, September 13, VUU pushed Lock Haven University to five sets before narrowly dropping a 3-2 decision and later concluded the tournament with a 3-0 loss to Belmont Abbey College.

Despite the setbacks, several Lady Panthers delivered standout performances. Senior libero Jasmine Powell recorded 29 defensive digs across the three matches, including a career-high 13 digs against Lock Haven. Senior outside hitter Aireanna Johnson turned in a strong two-way effort, finishing with 22 kills and 27 digs for the weekend. Her 19 digs and three blocks against Lock Haven marked season highs.

Head Coach Anetra Sims praised her team's determination in the face of adversity:

"Despite having half of our starters out with injuries, our girls continue to compete with heart and determination against every opponent we face. They've shown tremendous teamwork and resilience, consistently striving to do their best. Several players even stepped into roles outside of their usual positions, and I'm proud of the way they rose to the challenge. The level of competition we've faced has been strong, and I'm encouraged by the way our team has responded."

Virginia Union will return to action on Tuesday, September 16, when the Lady Panthers travel to Petersburg, Va., to face Richard Bland College at 6:00 p.m.