ODESSA, Texas (November 7, 2024) – Playing in what was its most important match of the season so far, The University of Texas Permian Basin volleyball team defeated St. Mary's University 3-1 (21-25, 25-19, 25-19, 27-25) to pull into a tie with the Rattlers for eighth place in the Lone Star Conference standings.

With just three matches remaining in the regular season, UTPB (13-9 overall, 6-7 LSC) now owns the tiebreaker over STMU (14-10, 6-7) and controls its own destiny when it comes to making the Lone Star Conference Tournament for the first time since 2021.

In addition, with its third win in the last two seasons against the Rattlers, UTPB breaks above .500 both overall (15-14) and at home (9-8) in its series with STMU, which dates back to 2006. The Falcons have won six of the eight meetings since the Rattlers joined the Lone Star Conference, and have six straight wins on their home court.

It was a highly competitive and contentious matchup. UTPB outhit STMU .245-.169 overall, but points were 74.0-73.0 in favor of the Falcons while the Rattlers out-killed UTPB 58-57. Assists were dead even at 56-56 while UTPB finished with just one more dig (80-79) than STMU.

In addition, UTPB's 12 blocks were tied for its second most in a match this season while its 56 assists were tied for its third most and its 80 digs were its fourth most.

Gloria Geurin recorded her sixth double-double of the season with a season-high 17 kills and 15 digs, all while hitting .350 percent.

Chyra Thompson finished with 10 kills on .318 percent hitting, and with five blocks, was one of four Falcons with at least three blocks in the match. It was her first double-digit kill match since the final match of September.

Ashlee Macias was the third Falcon with double-digit kills in the match, recording 10 kills to go along with a career-high 14 digs for the second double-double of her freshman campaign. Seven of Macias' kills came in the fourth and final set, including three during the Falcons' final five points of the match.

Lauren Demuth played big all night long and finished with nine kills and six blocks, tying her career-best block total as a freshman, and Logan Terrazas chipped in with a great all-around effort featuring six kills, five digs and four blocks.

Jenna Gray got her team-leading ninth double-double of the season after tallying 22 assists to go along with 11 digs.

Canyen Rodriguez, however, led the Falcons in assists for the first time this season with 25, which was a new career-high for the junior from Portland, Texas. She also added eight digs, her highest total since the opening weekend of the season for the Falcons.

Last but certainly not least, the libero, Gabby Gregorski, who was also UTPB's October Women's Student-Athlete of the Month, had 18 digs to go along with six assists.

Tied 12-12 in the second set, a 7-0 run with Rodriguez serving put the Falcons ahead. That run ended with five straight attack errors by the Rattlers. A service ace by Macias made it 22-13 Falcons, one of two solo blocks in the match by Demuth made it a 10-point margin (24-14), and then a kill by Demuth assisted by Rodriguez ended a 5-0 STMU run to tie the match at one set apiece.

In the third set, it was again tied, this time at 16-16, before a 6-0 UTPB run, and this time with Macias at the service line. This run was highlighted by three kills by Geurin.

After a solo block by Demuth to get the Falcons to 24 points in the second set, this time she teamed up with Terrazas for an assisted block to make it 24-18 in the third set, and then just like in the previous set, a kill by Demuth assisted by Rodriguez gave UTPB the win.

UTPB overcame a 7-0 deficit in the fourth set with a 7-0 run of its own featuring two service aces and a kill by Geurin and ending with a solo block by Macias.

Neither team led by more than three points the rest of the way, and after failing to win the match after two match points, a kill by Macias gave the Falcons their third match point up 26-25. An attack error by STMU on the next point was challenged by the Rattlers, who believed there was a touch by UTPB, but the challenge was not successful, and the Falcons were victorious.

There were 12 ties and eight lead changes in the third set, followed by 11 ties and three lead changes in the fourth set.

UT Permian Basin closes the home season in two days on Saturday, November 9, taking on St. Edward's University. The match, which will also be the Falcons' Senior Day, is scheduled to start at 11 a.m. instead of the normal 2 p.m. start time for Saturday matches.

"What a fantastic team win," spoke Head Coach CJ Allard. "We were looking for a performance that we felt accurately depicted the hunger, discipline and drive that we train with, and tonight outside of another painful slow start, mirrored what we've been doing behind closed doors for most of the season. We are looking forward to celebrating Gloria Geurin, Aaliyah Gray, Logan Terrazas, Cassandra Rother, April Egwu, Chyra Thompson, and Gabby Gregorski on Saturday as we wrap up our home slate vs. St. Edwards."