Philander Smith Dominates Paul Quinn in Straight Sets at Mims Gymnasium

Little Rock, Ark. — October 25, 2025 — Philander Smith delivered one of its most commanding performances of the season Saturday afternoon, sweeping Paul Quinn College in straight sets (28–26, 25–19, 25–15) at Mims Gymnasium. With the victory, the Panthers improve to 15–9 overall and 6–5 in conference play, while the Tigers drop to 16–12 and 7–4.

The opening set set the tone for a competitive battle early, as both squads traded leads in a tightly contested frame. Philander Smith showed poise under pressure, closing out the set 28–26 behind a balanced attack and efficient serving. From there, momentum clearly swung in the Panthers' favor, as they controlled the second and third sets with steadily increasing dominance.

Sophomore standout Ja'Niya Sanders powered the offense, recording 14 kills while hitting an impressive .375. Zarea Winn continued her consistent play on the outside, adding 11 kills and a .400 hitting percentage. Facilitating the offense was setter Essence Wren, who dished out 29 assists and kept Paul Quinn's defense guessing throughout the match.

Defensively, Philander Smith showed grit and hustle across the back row. Christlove Lauture anchored the Panthers with 20 digs, while Karissa Maldonado contributed 10 digs to keep rallies alive and thwart the Tigers' attempts to shift momentum.

Paul Quinn put up a strong fight in the first set and showed flashes of resilience behind hitters Jakayla Morrow (9 kills) and A'Niyah Harrison (6 kills). However, the Tigers were unable to match Philander Smith's consistency as the match wore on.

The Panthers held the statistical edge in nearly every category, including kills (48–37), hitting percentage (.279–.176), assists (46–36), and digs (61–52), underscoring their well-rounded performance in front of 182 energized supporters.