ODESSA, Texas (September 29, 2026) – Western New Mexico University handed UT Permian Basin a 3-0 (25-23, 25-13, 25-19) defeat on Tuesday night inside the Falcon Dome. The Mustangs got 13 kills and two aces from Brynlee Barris and 11 kills and three blocks from Daphne Posthumus en route to the straight-sets victory.
After struggling with service errors last weekend, UTPB (5-6 overall, 0-5 Lone Star Conference) was much better against WNMU (9-7, 3-2), finishing with zero service errors in the opening set, just one service error through two sets, and only two service errors for the match.
Despite effective serving early on from the likes of
Emma Gonzalez,
Isabel Rodriguez and
Addison Parks in set number one, the Falcons' defense still allowed the Mustangs to start the match with 10 kills and zero attack errors (.500 percent). UTPB was good, starting the match with seven kills compared to just one attack error (.429 percent), but WNMU was better.
With Gonzalez serving after the Falcons trailed 23-20, UTPB was on the comeback trail and got to within one at 23-22 after back-to-back kills by
Sydney Bradley and
Precious Johnson. The Falcons then tied it at 23-23 after what was only the second WNMU attack error of the set, but back-to-back kills by the Mustangs finished off the win 25-23.
WNMU hit .349 percent (17 kills, 2 errors) in the opening set while UTPB hit .233 percent (7 errors) on the same number of kills and attempts (43).
The second set was all Mustangs, who led 7-1 after back-to-back reception errors by the Falcons. WNMU again started the set with a red-hot attack (4 kills, 0 errors, .800 percent) while UTPB was hitting .000 percent (1 kill, 1 error). The Mustangs' lead grew to scores of 9-1, 11-3, 16-6, 18-7, 20-8 and 22-12, and ended at 25-13 after hitting .500 percent (16 kills). The Mustangs had just two attack errors for the second set in a row.
UTPB had a much better start early in the third set, leading 10-6. However, the Falcons' second and final service error of the night started a 5-0 Mustangs' run to take back control up 17-14. WNMU later went ahead 20-16 with a service ace and then led 22-16 after back-to-back attack errors by the Falcons, putting UTPB too far behind to stay in the fight. A final kill by Barris ended it with a 25-19 win.
WNMU's attack was simply too strong for the Falcons to stop all match long. The Mustangs finished the match by hitting .429 percent (47 kills, 7 errors), matching the number of attack errors UTPB had in the first set alone.
Leading UTPB's attack was
Makenna Grimes with eight kills, former Mustang
Kaitlyn Salgado with seven kills, and Bradley with six kills while setters
Kierra Freeman and Gonzalez both dished out 16 assists.
WNMU features one of the most produced duos in the LSC in sophomore Daphne Posthumus and senior Brynlee Barris. Posthumus was named Second-Team All-Conference and selected to the All-Freshman Team in 2025 while Barris captured Honorable Mention All-Conference honors. Together, the pair form one of the most productive middle hitter duos in the Lone Star Conference, combining for more than 600 kills, 230 blocks, and over 700 total points a season ago.
UTPB will look to rebound on the road this weekend. The Falcons play at The University of Texas at Tyler starting at 6 p.m. on Saturday, October 2, followed by The University of Texas at Dallas at 2 p.m. on Saturday, October 3.
