UT Permian Basin volleyball's run in the Lone Star Conference Tournament was ended in four sets by No. 22 Texas A&M Commerce, 25-20, 13-25, 21-25 and 19-25.
The Lions came out of the gates fast, jumping to a 5-1 lead. They would push the lead to 8-3, before the Falcons would begin to chip away. The teams would trade points, before the Falcons would take control of the set. The team would finish on a 10-2 run, including the last seven points, to take the first set. In the run the Falcons were helped by six Lion errors, while
Aquincia Strambler added a pair of kills.
The Lions would control the second set from the beginning. An 11-1 run propelled them to a 13-3 lead early. The Falcons would try to close the gap with a 5-2 run, but the Lions would close out the set with a run of their own and win 25-17.
The Falcons would have to play from behind again in the third set as the Lions scored the first three points. The Falcons would climb back into the set before a four point run by the Lions pushed their lead. A four point swing by the Falcons would close the gap to just one at 18-17, but the Lions answered with a 5-0 run to pull away and take the set 25-21.
Just as the first three sets the Falcons had to climb out of a hole, this time down 6-1. The Falcons would climb back into the set and after a pair of Lion errors the score was 13-10. Another Lion run would push the lead to 18-11. Three straight errors by the Lions would make the score 19-15, but that's as close as the Falcons would get before the Lions would take the set 25-19.
Strambler led the Falcons with 13 kills while
Skyler Friel added 11 kills.
Kiera Granado and
Analise Lucio had 18 assists each while Sarah Vazquez led the team with 12 digs.