box score
 
The University of Texas of the Permian Basin volleyball team saw its season come to an end in the first round of the Heartland Conference tournament as second-seeded Arkansas-Fort Smith took a 3-0 (25-19, 25-21, 25-23) win over the Falcons. 
 
UTPB struggled as Arkansas-Fort Smith collected 20 block assists to go along with three solo blocks which stymied the Falcon offense, which hit .086 for the match.  Heidi Luks, who put 23 kills and five block assists last week in the final match of the regular season, had another impressive match with seven kills, 11 digs and a match-high three solo and eight block assists. 
 
This time, the Lions relied on Fabiane Nass to be the Falcon killer as she had 13 kills with just two errors and had five block assists. 
 
UTPB led just once – briefly in the second set when a couple of ball handling errors by Janie Price gave it an 18-16 edge.  The Lions countered with four-straight points to take the lead for good. 
 
A 7-1 start to the opening set was the momentum the Lions needed, which eventually propelled them to the opening win.  They would go up 14-6, but a 6-1 run pulled the Falcons within three (15-12).  They would come no closer the rest of the way.  Arkansas-Fort Smith collected 14 kills with just two errors in the set, while UTPB hit .167. 
 
The second set started much like the second as the Lions jumped out to a 7-3 lead before UTPB rallied to tie the set at 10 after a kill by Melissa Lusk, who picked up 10 without an error for the match.  The teams would exchange points before the Lions broke a 20-20 tie with a 5-1 run to take a two set advantage. 
 
It looked as if UTPB would concede the match as it fell behind 11-2 to open the third set.  Trailing 20-12, the Falcons used a 10-2 run to tie the set at 22 thanks to a service ace by Ariel Fralick.  A kill by Nass stopped the threat as the Lions closed out the match with a 3-1 burst.
 
The Falcons close out the 2011 season with a 19-16 record.