The University of Texas of the Permian Basin volleyball team closed out a three-day road trip with a 26-24, 16-25, 23-25, 25-16, 10-15 loss against Lubbock Christian Thursday night in Lubbock, Texas.

An early lead and a late push helped the Falcons take a first set 26-24 win. UTPB got off to a 5-1 lead at the start of the contest behind three kills, two of them from Melissa Lusk. LCU rebounded and fought back to tie the match at 17-17, and the Lady Chaps eventually moved to within two points of winning the set at 23-18. The Falcons rallied to score eight of the final nine points in the first, taking the opening set 26-24.

Lubbock Christian came out strong in the second set, scoring 13 of the first 17 points and holding a comfortable lead over the remainder of the set in a 25-16 win to even the match.

The Falcons and Lady Chaps stayed close in the third, with neither team being able to separate by more than two points as each held the lead until Lubbock Christian led 20-17. UTPB tied it back up at 20-20, and kept it tied at 22-22, but wasn't able to hold off LCU as the Lady Chaps scored three of the last four points to take the third 25-23.

UTPB rebounded in the fourth, breaking away in the middle of the set on a 9-2 run that started when they were trailing 9-8 to turn it into a 17-11 lead in a must-win set. The Falcons never gave LCU a chance to get back in the set, holding at least a five point lead throughout the rest of the fourth and scoring the final three points to win 25-16.

Lubbock Christian scored the first four points of the decisive fifth set and the Falcons were unable to recover from trailing early on. UTPB scored five straight to trail 7-6, but dropped the next three points in an eventual 15-10 loss.

Keeley Brogdon led all players with 21 kills on the night, and Hannah Rebb, Melissa Lusk and Morgann Davis each added nine. Jordan McDonald had a team-best 24 digs and Ariel Fralick led the Falcons with 26 assists. 

UTPB is off this weekend, returning to action Tuesday, October 8 at 7 p.m. against St. Mary's.