Picking up where she left off in 2019, Analise Lucio started the spring on the right foot leading UT Permian Basin 20 assists.  The junior added five digs on the defensive side, tying for the second most on the team.  Fellow junior Lanai Hurd added a team-high 10 digs while Taurie Magee led the team with eight kills in her Falcon debut.
 
The Falcons came out firing against No. 15 Angelo State.  They took the lead early in the first set on the strength of a 5-0 run, taking advantage of three Rambelle errors.  The Falcons led 16-14 after a run that including a pair of kills by Aquincia Strambler and one by Magee.  Momentum shifted quickly as the Rambelles closed the set on an 11-3 run to take it.
 
The Rambelles started the second strong with a four-point run to open the set.  Still, the Falcons wouldn't back down.  A three-point run in the middle of the set bookended by kills by Isela Murillo kept them around, but they couldn't close the early gap.
 
It was the Falcons who opened the third set strong, taking advantage of some sloppy play by the Rambelles to take an 8-5 lead.  Unfortunately, the Rambelles pulled ahead on the strength of a 9-0 run, followed shortly by a 4-0 run.  The Falcons battled to the end, taking seven of the match's final 10 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome the preseason Lone Star Conference favorites.
 
Murillo was second on the team with seven kills, while finishing second on the team with five digs.  Strambler led the offense in hitting percentage with five kills in 17 attempts.  Five Falcons also recorded a service ace in the season opener.
 
The Falcons are back in action tomorrow against the same Rambelles starting at 7 PM.