SAN ANGELO, Texas (September 7, 2024) – After putting together two gutsy performances in a pair of losses the day before, The University of Texas Permian Basin volleyball team picked up its first two wins of the 2024 season on the final day of the Kathleen Brasfield Invitational. The Falcons began the day with an early 8 a.m. start and defeated New Mexico Highlands University in four sets, 3-1 (25-10, 25-15, 13-25, 25-12), before coming back in the afternoon to sweep Emmanuel College (Ga.) 3-0 (25-15, 25-19, 25-17).
 
Match 1 (UTPB 3, New Mexico Highlands 1):

• It was the first win as head coach for CJ Allard and was the first matchup between UTPB and NMHU since 2010, which coincidently was also a 3-1 win for the Falcons.
• UTPB hit .185 percent while holding NMHU to .029 percent hitting.
• 15 Falcons saw action in the match.
• Logan Terrazas matched her career-high with 12 kills and hit .367 percent.
• With nine kills and 10 digs, Gloria Geurin was one kill short of a double-double.
• April Egwu matched her career-highs in total blocks (8) and assisted blocks (7) and added an early-season high of six kills.
• Chyra Thompson had five blocks and Terrazas added four.
• The Falcons recorded 10, 12 and 14 blocks through their first three matches of the season and finished their season-opening tournament with an average of 2.75 blocks per set across all four matches.
• Jenna Gray had 24 assists and 12 digs, marking her third straight double-double to open the season.
• Gabby Gregorski had 20 digs, her second straight match with at least 20 digs.
• Reann Cato contributed to the cause with seven digs and three service aces and Aaliyah Gray added five kills and four digs in what was her first action of the season.
• UTPB hit .371 percent in a dominating first set and held NMHU to -.028 percent. The Cowgirls would proceed to hit .000 percent in the second set and -.258 percent in the fourth set.
• After stumbling with a slow start in the third set, UTPB bounced back with an 11-4 lead in the fourth set and never looked back, ultimately taking a 10-point lead (19-9) before winning the final six points of the match on a run starting with a kill by Terrazas and then with Geurin going back to serve for the final five points of the contest.

 
Match 2 (UTPB 3, Emmanuel 0):

• It was a strong performance for a UTPB team against an Emmanuel squad that qualified for last year's NCAA Division II Tournament after winning the Conference Carlolina's championship.
• UTPB had four players who recorded eight or more kills while hitting over .300 percent.
• Cassandra Rother (.600 pct.), Terrazas (.389 pct.) and Geurin (.316 pct.) each tallied nine kills while Thompson notched eight kills and hit .412 percent.
• J. Gray had 19 assists and Canyen Rodriguez had 15.
• Thompson also registered six blocks, giving her a total of 11 blocks between UTPB's two matches on Saturday and matching her with Egwu for the team-lead with 18 blocks over the course of the opening weekend.
• UTPB hit .381 percent for the match, including a blistering .615 percent with 16 kills and zero attack errors in the opening set.
• Up 20-15 in the first set, the Falcons took each of the final five points on a kill by Gergorski, a kill by Egwu, a Lions' attack error, a service ace by J. Gray and another EC attack error.
• Then with only a one-point lead (20-19) late in the second set, UTPB again rattled off the final five points, this time on an EC service error, a kill by Rother, another kill by Geurin, another ace by J. Gray, and a kill by Kennedi Wright.
• After kills by Geurin and Rother to get the third set started, the Falcons led the whole way in the final frame and extended their lead to eight points (20-12) following kills on three straight points by Rother, Wright and Geurin and then an assisted block by Wright and Thompson.
• A solo block by Terrazas would serve as the final point of the tournament for the Falcons.

Coach's Quote:

• "What a fantastic first weekend in the books. We came into this weekend committed to giving ourselves the best probability of success, and today that showed beautifully. Today's wins were a group effort and all of our success here forward will continue to require each and every one of us. I'm excited for Falcon country to get a view of this squad Thursday at 5 p.m. in our home opener." – Head Coach CJ Allard. 

Team Records:

• UTPB finishes off its opening weekend 2-2 and will continue early-season tournament action next week on its home court.

 
Next Up: UT Permian Basin will be hosting the Dr. Steve Aicinena "Iceman" Invitational, Thursday thru Saturday (Sept. 12-14). The tournament will start with UTPB welcoming Sul Ross State University into the Falcon Dome for a 5 p.m. start on Thursday, September 12.