ODESSA, Texas (September 13, 2024) – Day two of the Dr. Steve Aicinena "Iceman" Invitational saw The University of Texas Permian Basin women's volleyball team defeat Southeastern Oklahoma State University in five sets, 3-2 (24-26, 25-21, 25-12, 12-25, 15-6), in the first of three matches hosted inside the Falcon Dome on Friday.

After their only set loss against Sul Ross State University the day before came at the result of an overturned call on a challenge by the Lobos, it was great usage of the challenge card by UTPB Head Coach CJ Allard this time around that helped the Falcons take the victory in the fifth set.

SOSU hit .200 percent with three blocks in the first set and then UTPB did the same to win the second set. Then after the teams split lopsided 25-12 decisions in the third and fourth sets, the Falcons fell behind 3-0 in the fifth set.

From there, the first of two successful challenges in the final set for Coach Allard and the Falcons led to a kill by Lauren Demuth to tie the score at 3-3 and help ignite what was in all, a 9-1 UTPB run to make it a 9-4 lead for the home team.

After back-to-back kills by Chyra Thompson, it became an 11-2 UTPB run and an 11-5 Falcons' lead, and then the second successful challenge by Allard in the set led to a kill by Logan Terrazas to make it 13-6.

Over the next two points, the Falcons won the match on a kill by Gloria Geurin and an assisted block by Geurin and Thompson.

In all, it was a 15-3 run to end the match for UTPB and was a 13-3 scoring advantage after Coach Allard's first challenge.

"I am very pleased with how we were able to stick together and fight out that fifth set victory," spoke Allard. "We will continue to work to minimize the drastic swings in our play throughout the course of a match. Our 'good' is proving to be strong, but we have to give our 'good' more opportunities to show itself. I can't wait to get one more crack at those objectives tomorrow against New Mexico Highlands."

Kennedi Wright led the Falcons with 14 kills and added 11 digs while Geurin also reached a double-double with 11 kills and 12 digs.

Thompson finished with 12 kills and Demuth reached double-digits in kills for the first time in her career with 10.

Jenna Gray and Canyen Rodriguez dished out 25 and 21 assists, respectively.

After recording 29 digs in the previous match against Sul Ross State, Gabby Gregorski was back at it again with 27 digs against the Savage Storm of SOSU.

UTPB will close out the Iceman Invitational at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, September 14, against New Mexico Highlands University.
 
2024 Iceman Invitational Tournament Central: https://utpbfalcons.com/sports/2024/9/5/2024-iceman-invitational.aspx