Box Score

The University of Texas of the Permian Basin volleyball team played a pair of close sets Saturday afternoon against St. Edward's, dropping each of them 23-25 before the Hilltoppers took down the Falcons 18-25 in the third and final set in Heartland Conference action in Austin, Texas. 

Both teams played close early on, with UTPB working up a three-point lead at 7-4 of the first. The Falcons were able to hold onto the advantage at 10-8 and 11-10 before a pair of St. Edward's kills gave it a 13-11 lead. Trailing by four at 22-18, UTPB scored three straight on a pair of attacks by Melissa Lusk and an attack error to pull to within one. St. Edward's scored the next two points to reach set point, but the Falcons pulled back to within a point on a Lusk kill and block from Lusk and Keeley Brogdton to bring the score to 24-23. A kill from the Hilltoppers after a time out gave them a two-point opening set win on their third attempt at set point.

The Hilltoppers controlled the lead for a majority of the second set, holding the lead exclusively after UTPB led 2-1. A five-point run pushed their lead out to 19-10, but the Falcons were able to close to within three at 22-19. Another three point rally pulled UTPB to within one at 23-22. The Hilltoppers scored the next point to face set point, and after UTPB saved one set point, closed out the set on their second attempt to take a 2-0 lead.

UTPB fell behind early in the third, giving up the first six points as they eventually trailed 12-2. The Hilltoppers led by no fewer than six points throughout the remainder of the set, picking up the match victory with a 25-18 third set win.

Lusk led UTPB with 13 kills while Jamie Rodell hit a match-best .474 with 11 kills on 19 total attempts. Ariel Fralick led the Falcons with 17 assists as Ariana Gallardo added 16 more, and Danae Eckart tallied 18 digs.

UTPB returns home for its final three regular season matches, beginning this week against McMurry. Game time Thursday night is scheduled for 7 p.m.