For the first time since 2011, UT Permian Basin volleyball will be playing in the postseason when they take on No. 22 Texas A&M – Commerce on Thursday at 2:30 p.m. in Stephenville. 

This season was a breakout year for the Falcons.  This season they set a program-record improving by 10 wins from last season.  They won 14 games, their most since 2011 when they won 19 in making the Heartland Conference playoffs.  Their nine conference wins are the most since they won the same number back in 2009, a year after winning the Heartland Conference Championship.

Coming into this match, the Falcons are 1-7 all-time against the Lions.  The Falcons won the first meeting between the two teams in 2010, but since then the Lions have won seven straight.  Both teams are riding high coming into the match.  Over Senior Weekend the Falcons upset Angelo State, No. 6 in the region, on Friday and followed it up by defeating then No. 10 Tarleton State, No. 1 in five sets.  The Lions finished the season on an eight-game winning streak and have won 18 of 19 games overall. 

These teams have met twice this season already, with the Lions taking both match-ups.  The first meeting took place in Odessa, a place the Falcons have made difficult for opposing teams.  The Falcons took the first set before dropping the next two.  The fourth set was a 25-23 thriller won by the Falcons, forcing a decisive fifth set.  The Falcons would take a 7-5 lead in the fifth set, but a late run by the Lions ended the upset bid.  These two met later in the season on Senior Day for the Lions, where the Falcons would be downed in three sets.

The Falcon attack is led by the trio of junior Skyler Friel, junior Travana Matthews and freshman Aquincia Strambler.  Friel leads the team with 277 kills and currently holds the school-record for highest attacking percentage at .323 percent while registering 111 blocks.  Matthews adds in 264 kills and 103 blocks while Strambler has 223 kills on the season.  Freshman Analise Lucio and junior Kiera Granado pace the team with 523 and 436 assists respectively.  Junior Sarah Vazquez finished ninth in the conference with 450 digs. 

The Lions come in with their first 25-win season since 2010 and second in the South Central Regional Poll.  They finished their Lone Star Conference schedule 17-3, losing to Angelo State in five sets and Tarleton State twice.  They are led by junior Shelley Chapron's 297 kills for a .404 attacking percentage, which leads the conference.  Seniors Jaslyn and Jaryn Wacker aren't far behind with 291 and 283 kills respectively. Rylie Fuentes leads the Lions with 635 assists while Celeste Vela adds 521.  Savannah Rutledge leads them with 532 digs and 37 service aces.

The Lone Star Conference Tournament is hosted by Tarleton State.  These teams will square-off at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday in Wisdom Gym, with the winner advancing to play Friday night at 5 p.m. against the winner of Angelo State and Texas A&M – Kingsville. Full coverage of the 2018 Lone Star Conference Tournament can be found here: https://tarletonsports.com/sports/2015/11/12/WVB_1112153909.aspx