box score

LAREDO – The University of Texas of the Permian Basin volleyball team snapped a three-match losing streak by taking a 3-0 ( 27-25, 25-19, 25,23) win over Texas A&M International in Heartland Conference action.

Despite collecting fewer kills and having a lower hitting percentage, the Falcons found a way to overcome the deficit to pull out a win. A&M International collected 43 kills and hit .192 while UTPB had 35 kills and hit .188.

The Falcons were led offensively by freshman Melissa Lusk, who tallied eight kills, while Keeley Brodgon added six.  Terra Peil and Jamie Rodell also added five kills in the win.  

In the first set, saw both teams exchange points until A&M International used a 7-2 run to lead 13-7.  The Falcons used a run of their own to tie the match at 14 after a kill by Lusk.  UTPB finally got its first lead of the set when an attack error by the Dust Devils gave the Falcons a 20-19 advantage.  UTPB eventually led 24-21, but three-straight points by A&M-International tied the game at 24.  Back-to-back kills by Rodell and Lusk gave the Falcons the first set victory. 

The second set saw the Dust Devils jump out to a 7-4 lead, but the Falcons eventually took a 10-9 lead on a kill by Brittany Ammons.  Like the first set, neither team was able to take control until UTPB broke a 17-17 tie by going on an 8-2 run the rest of the way to win 25-19. 

It was much of the same in the third set for the Falcons as they were unable to shake the Dust Devils.  The game went back and forth once again and the two teams were tied at 23 after A&M International's Bianca Mares registered a kill.  A service error by the Dust Devils and a kill by Sara Torres ended the threat and gave UTPB its ninth win of the season.