UT Permian Basin improved to 2-1 in Lone Star Conference play and 7-4 overall in 2018 with a 25-17, 25-20, 25-17 runaway victory against MSU Texas at the UTPB Gym.

The Falcons out-hit the Mustangs .312 to .054 as a team, and had seven collective aces on serve to zero by MSU Texas with an 8-4 blocks advantage.

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UTPB broke open a tied first set with five straight points, started on kills by Aquincia Strambler and Travana Matthews to lead 12-7. The Falcons never led by fewer than three points ad used a push that featured five out of six points with kills from Marissa Aguilar, Puava Tulau and an ace by Analise Lucio for an 18-11 lead. Kills by Tulau and Haleigh Robinson wrapped up the eight-point first set.

The Falcons looked to have the second set in their advantage after a 7-1 start, but MSU Texas came back to take a 15-14 lead after four straight points. The Falcons reclaimed the lead 20-18, and won the set by taking the final four points with a kill by Skyler Friel, block by Friel and Robinson and a set-winning ace by Lucio.

The Falcons took over a back-and-forth third set with eight of nine points to lead 22-16. Then UTPB won the final three points of the night, claiming the match on a kill by Aguilar and a block by Friel and Robinson to get the victory.

Tulau led the Falcons with seven kills while Aguilar and Matthews added six apiece. Friel contributed on six of the Falcons eight blocks on the night. Lucio had a team-best 15 assists while Sarah Vasquez led all players in the match with eight digs.

The Falcons close out a three-game homestand Saturday afternoon, taking on Cameron at 3:30 p.m.