Box Score UTPB volleyball looked set to open its 2014 home schedule with a three set win Monday afternoon in Odessa, but Western New Mexico ended the day with wins in the final three sets to send the Falcons to a 3-2 defeat.

The Falcons came back in the first after dropping the first four points of the day, winning six straight on Jordan McDonald's serve. UTPB and Western New Mexico wrestled the lead back and forth throughout the set and Hannah Rebb saved the team while facing set point with a kill to tie the first at 24-24. An attack error put UTPB ahead 25-24 and Rebb locked up the first with a service ace for a 26-24 win.

The Falcons came out hot to start the second, taking the first five points and scoring five straight after a lone Mustangs point for a 10-1 lead. UTPB recorded seven kills in the hot start, including three straight by Ryley Carman at the end of the run.

The nine-point cushion gave the Falcons a comfortable lead through the remainder of the second set as Western New Mexico never got closer than five points in the 25-17 set win.

The Mustangs started to turn the tables early in the third, scoring four straight points followed by five in a row for an 8-4 lead. WNMU never trailed in the remainder of the third and scored six of the final eight points for a 25-16 win in the third.

Western New Mexico took control of the fourth set early with eight straight points for an 8-0 lead. UTPB came back with five straight of its own but was never able to recover as the Mustangs evened the match two sets apiece with a 25-15 win.

The Mustangs got out on top early in the decisive fifth set with a 6-2 lead and never looked back, winning the final two points of the day to take the fifth 15-10.

Leeta Grap led all players with 16 kills for Western New Mexico. Morgann Davis tallied 13 winners while hitting a match-best .344. 

UTPB is back at home Thursday night, hosting Newman at 7 p.m. in Heartland Conference action.