KINGSVILLE, Texas (October 4, 2024) – Playing on the road for the first time in conference action this season, The University of Texas Permian Basin volleyball team lost 3-0 (25-22, 25-21, 25-16) to Texas A&M University-Kingsville on Friday night at the Gil E. Steinke Physical Education Center. It was a matchup between two of the top defensive teams in the Lone Star Conference statistically.

Coming into the match, UTPB boasted perhaps the best defense in the LSC, leading the league in opponent hitting percent, opponent assists, opponent kills, blocks, and digs. The TAMUK defense, meanwhile, ranked second in blocks per set (2.20) and third in opponent digs per set (13.14).

TAMUK controlled the action in the first set, leading 5-0 to start the match after two service aces and an out of formation call on UTPB and then doubling up the score at 12-6 after the third service ace of the set by the Javelinas.

The Javelinas ultimately led by as many 10 points (21-11) in the opening set, but the Falcons made it closer at the end, holding off three set points for TAMUK until a kill by Meghan Stiefer ended it.

UTPB led 7-5 and 9-5 in the second set, but the lead did not last as two more aces for TAMUK put the Javelinas up by scores 12-10 and 15-12, respectively.

Late in the second set, a kill by Chyra Thompson got the Falcons to within two at 22-20, but the fourth UTPB service error of the night was followed by a kill by TAMUK's Ayana Jackson to bring up set point. Two points later, Jackson's 10th kill of the match gave the Javelins a 2-0 lead.

UTPB then hit -.026 percent in the final set as TAMUK added five more blocks to its total.

TAMUK outhit UTPB .220 to .126 percent for the match and outblocked the Falcons by one, 9.0-8.0.  UTPB began the day leading the LSC in blocks per set while TAMUK was second.

Cassandra Rother would finish with seven kills for the second match in a row while Thompson had six kills, Gloria Geurin had five and Ashlee Macias had four.

Jenna Gray had 15 assists and nine digs, Gabby Gregorski had 12 digs and six assists, and Canyen Rodriguez added nine assists.

Lauren Demuth and Logan Terrazas each had a hand in four blocks for the Falcons.

UTPB drops to 8-4 overall and 1-2 in the LSC with the loss while TAMUK, which tied for fifth place in the conference standings a year ago, improves to 9-5 and picks up its first conference win of the season at 1-2.

"This game is way too hard when our pass is as inconsistent and our serve is as predictable as it was tonight," said CJ Allard. "Kingsville is a reigning NCAA Tournament team who was salivating at the chances we gave them tonight. We continue to work well all week in preparation, so I have some deep soul searching to do to figure out how to let our talents shine against the conference's top half."

The Falcons return to the court tomorrow (Sept. 5) as they travel to Laredo, Texas, for the second time this season but this time with conference stakes on the line against Texas A&M International University. The action is scheduled to start at 2 p.m. as the Falcons look to pull even at 2-2 in the LSC.