ODESSA, Texas (September 26, 2024) – The University of Texas Permian Basin volleyball team kicked off Lone Star Conference play with a 3-0 (25-16, 25-13, 25-13) sweep over Eastern New Mexico University on Thursday inside the Falcon dome.

Both UTPB (8-2 overall, 1-0 LSC) and ENMU (3-9, 0-1) entered conference play following a pair of wins during the LSC Crossover last week, but it was the Falcons who earned their eighth win in a row overall. In addition, UTPB has now won eight straight matches against ENMU since 2019 after needing a 15-13 win in the fifth set last year to win their second meeting last season.

UTPB hit .481 percent and .483 percent in the final two sets and hit .444 percent for the match with just three attack errors.

Chyra Thompson and Kennedi Wright both recorded nine kills. Thompson did her damage on .571 percent hitting while Wright hit .471 percent.

Cassandra Rother had six kills and zero errors on seven attempts, good for a .857 percentage.

Wright also matched Gabby Gregorski with 11 digs.

Jenna Gray finished with 16 assists and six digs.

UTPB had nine blocks as a team and saw Rother, Thompson, Wright and Lauren Demuth all have a hand in three blocks.

"What a great team win tonight," said Head Coach CJ Allard. "All 17 players were ready for their number to be called and executed all facets of the match from start to finish. To break a team offensive efficiency record and come out the next match to attack even more efficiently shows how hungry this team is to make history. I'm excited for what will be a great battle Saturday against a strong West Texas A&M squad."

Now with a 4-0 record at home this season, the Falcons will be put to the test next time out as they host No. 10 nationally-ranked West Texas A&M University at 2 p.m. on Saturday, September 28.