UT Permian Basin volleyball rallied from trailing two sets to one against Southwestern Oklahoma State to with the fourth and fifth sets for its first win of the season 13-25, 25-18, 13-25, 27-25, 15-5.
Facing match point down 24-23 in the fourth UTPB scored five of the last six points of the set. Tied 25 all, a
Kaitlyn Embrey kill and service ace by Kiera Granada took the match to a fifth and final set.
The Falcons ran away with the fifth set, scoring six of the first seven points with a pair of kills coming from
Marissa Aguilar. Kills from Embrey and
Shelby Thomas helped UTPB score the last four points of the match to wrap up the win.
UT Permian Basin hit a match-best .333 in the fifth set with six kills and just one error. Agular led the team on the night with nine kills, backed up with eight from Embrey and
Caitlyn Guajardo. Granado had 36 assists to lead all players, and
Sarah Vasquez had a match-high 34 digs.
The Falcons struggled in the opening match of the season, losing 17-25, 17-25, 31-29, 13-25 to Adams State. UTPB committed more errors than attacks in the four-setter but showed life in the third set by taking the Grizzlies to extra points before pulling out the 31-29 set win.
Rachel Dixon paced the Falcons with 14 kills and Guajardo added 13 in the match. Granado had 35 assists to lead both teams, and Vasquez had a match-high 20 digs.
UTPB is back at the 2017 Lady Buff Classic Saturday with matches against St. Mary's and Colorado State - Pueblo.
