Vs Southwestern Oklahoma State Bulldogs
Date: September 3, 2021 at 9 AM
Location: First United Bank Center – Canyon, Texas
History: The Falcons are 2-0 all-time against the Bulldogs
Stats
Video
 
Vs St. Edward's Hilltoppers
Date: September 3, 2021 at 2 PM
Location: The Box – Canyon, Texas
History: The Falcons are 3-13 against the Hilltoppers dating back to 2010, but winners of two straight contests.
Stats
Video
 
Falcon Volleyball returns after a deep run in the Lone Star Conference playoffs in the spring.  The Falcons played one of the most difficult schedules in the nation, playing 11 of their 15 matches against a team ranked or receiving votes.  Returning for the Falcons are their top four in kills from the spring, their top three setters, and four of their top five in digs.
 
Scouting the Bulldogs
Playing in the spring, the Bulldogs went 7-6 and earned the two-seed in the Great American Conference Western Division.  They advanced to the conference semifinals where they fell to Harding in three sets.  These two teams last faced each other in 2019 in Lubbock when the Falcons swept the Bulldogs in three sets.  The Bulldogs finished the 2019 season 16-12.  They return nearly the same roster as the spring including their top four in kills, top two setters, and top five in digs.
 
Scouting the Hilltoppers
The Hilltoppers are no stranger to the Falcons, as this will be the 23rd meeting in series history.  The Falcons ended their spring with a sweep in the first round of the Lone Star Conference Playoffs.  It's largely the same roster as the spring for the Hilltoppers, who's biggest loss was Melissa McNeil to graduation.  McNeil finished top-3 on the team in kills and digs.  In two season since joining the LSC, the Hilltopppers have reached the playoffs both seasons, but exited in the first round.  They went 6-7 in the spring and finished second in the LSC South Division.
 
Don't Let Up
Over the last three season the Falcons have gradually improved every season.  In 2018, they reached the LSC Playoffs for the first time and upset No. 10 Tarleton on Senior Day.  In 2019, the team set a new record for winning percentage and finished with a 20-9 record.  They also spent a week in the top 10 of the South Central Regional rankings.  That team became the first to win a game in the LSC Playoffs.  In the spring, the Falcons came within a handful of points of reaching the conference semis.  The Falcons took No. 1 seeded UA Fort Smith to a decisive fifth set on their floor.  How far will the Falcons go this season?
 
Top of Their Class
The Falcons feature a veteran, battle tested roster in 2021 with 10 upperclassmen.  Returning are seniors Analise Lucio and Aquincia Strambler who powered the Falcon offense in the spring.  Lucio led the LSC with 490 assists while Strambler finished fourth in the conference with 191 kills.  Also returning for the Falcons are upperclassmen Taurie Magee (second in kills), Isela Murillo (third in kills and fourth in digs), and Erika Lozano (fifth in digs).
 
Battle Ready
The Falcons played a difficult schedule in the spring.  Against teams not receiving votes nor ranked, they dropped just two sets in four matches.  Since the start of 2019, the Falcons have one loss to an LSC opponent outside perennial contenders Angelo State, West Texas A&M, UA Fort Smith, and Lubbock Christian, not including Tarleton who has now moved onto the Division I level.  The Falcons have reached the second round of the playoffs in consecutive years and look to keep the streak alive in 2021.
 
Chasing History
Analise Lucio enters the 2021 season with 1,801 assists, the fourth most in the program's NCAA history.  At the same pace this season, 32.7 per match, Lucio would finish with 850 assists.  The 850 assists would be the fifth most in a single season and vault Lucio into second place in program history.  This season Lucio needs to reach 1,047 assists, or 40.3 per game, to break the program's all-time record.  There have been four seasons with 1,000 or more assists in program history.
Aquincia Strambler sit just outside the top 10 in all-time kills with 645.  The Midland native needs just 13 to crack the top-10.  At last season's pace, Strambler would finish this season with 330 kills and put her fifth in program history.  Both Lucio and Strambler will have an extra season of eligibility due to COVID.