The University of Texas of the Permian Basin volleyball team earned a decisive first set victory Saturday afternoon, but Arkansas-Fort Smith rallied to win the final three sets in defeating the Falcon 25-16, 19-25, 14-25, 18-25.

The Falcons scored multiple points in a row numerous times in the first set, taking a 10-5 lead behind four consecutive kills, including a pair from Terra Peil. The Lions pulled within three points at 19-16, but the Falcons closed out the set with six straight points for an impressive nine-point set victory.

The roles were reversed in the second as UA Fort Smith came out and got to a 13-6 lead. UTPB closed to within three on a 5-1 point swing late in the set to trail 20-17, but never cut the advantage below that in dropping the second 25-19. The Falcons trailed early on in the third as well, falling behind 11-3 and were unable to make up the difference in a 25-14 third set loss.

The Falcons scored the first four points of the fourth on three consecutive attack errors by UAFS and an ace on serve by Taylor Harmon. The Lions turned the set around a few points later with seven straight to take a 9-6 lead. The Falcons got to within a point at 9-8, but the Lions never lost the lead in a 25-18 set to take the match 3-1.

Melissa Lusk led the Falcons with 13 kills on a day where she hit a team-high .345. Ariel Fralcik tallied 20 assists and Jordan McDonald had 12 digs for UTPB.

Jordan Erz led all players for Fort Smith with 14 kills on the afternoon as UAFS out-hit UTPB .311 to .168 on the day.

The Falcons are on the road for three midweek games, traveling first to Hobbs, N.M., for a 6 p.m. match at University of the Southwest Tuesday night.