ODESSA, Texas (September 12, 2024) – The first match of the 2024 Dr. Steve Aicinena "Iceman" Invitational saw The University of Texas Permian Basin women's volleyball team defeat Sul Ross State University in four sets, 3-1 (25-13, 23-25, 25-12, 25-17), on Thursday evening.

It was also the first match of the season for UTPB (3-2 overall) inside its home Falcon Dome and was the first action of the year for Sul Ross State (0-1).

As you could tell by looking at the set scores, UTPB was dominating in its set wins, holding the Lobos to a negative hitting percentage in each of the three wins while hitting .462 themselves in the first set and .333 percent in the third.

The top performers for the Falcons included Gabby Gregorski with 29 digs, Jenna Gray with 23 assists, Cassandra Rother with 12 kills, Kennedi Wright with 11 kills, and Logan Terrazas with four blocks.

Rother's 12 kills were a new season-high and tied her career-best number reached twice before.

The 29 digs for Gregorski were just one off her career-high of 30 digs set against Fort Lewis College last weekend (Sept. 6).

Rother, April Egwu and Chyra Thompson added three blocks apiece as well as the Falcons out-blocked their opponent for the fifth straight time to open the season, this time by a margin of 10 (12-2).

UTPB's only lost set came after a challenge by SRSU overturned an attack error by the Lobos that would have tied the set at 24-24, but instead gave the road team the 25-23 win when the play was changed to a kill. UTPB responded in the third set by turning a 5-5 score into an 11-5 advantage after four straight kills by Rother, Thompson, Rother again, and then Wright.

UTPB Head Coach CJ Allard said after the match, "It was great to be back in front of our faithful Falcons. By the start of the match, there wasn't an empty seat available and that support certainly fueled our winning performance. We'll need that and better overall execution to see more success Friday and Saturday."

The Iceman Invitational will continue on Friday, September 13, and Saturday, September 14. The Falcons are back in action tomorrow against Southeastern Oklahoma State University at 2 p.m. before closing out the tournament on Saturday against New Mexico Highlands University at 2:30 p.m.
 
2024 Iceman Invitational Tournament Central