TYLER, Texas - The #17 UT Tyler Volleyball team hosted the first day of American Southwest Conference Crossover play on Friday. The Patriots opened the day with a sweep of Howard Payne before defeating #24 Mary Hardin Baylor in four sets. The pair of wins move UT Tyler to 18-1 overall.
GAME 1: #17 UT Tyler 3 - Howard Payne 0 (25-6, 25-12, 25-12)
The Patriots opened crossover with a dominant first set, winning by 19. UT Tyler opened the set on a 10-1 run to pull ahead early. The Patriots would push their lead to 17, up 20-3 before Howard Payne brought the set within 15 at 20-5. UT Tyler would score five of the last six points, opening a 19 point lead and taking the first set.
UT Tyler used a four and three-point run to open the second set ahead 7-2. A four-point run put the Patriots ahead 16-8 before a second four-point run put the Patriots ahead 20-9. The Patriots would record five of the final eight points to seal a 25-12 second set win.
The third set saw the teams play to a 10-10 draw before UT Tyler went on a 9-1 run to open an eight point lead in the late goings. The Patriots sealed the sweep with the final six points of the match, winning 25-12.
The first match win pushed the Patriots win streak to 12 games.
UT TYLER LEADERS:
| Kills |
Kaitlyn Budisalovich (10), Loren Guerra (9), Kyana Alvarez(7) |
| Aces |
Kaitlyn Budisalovich (8), Reighanna Guzman (4), Makenna Bartlett (1) |
| Blocks |
Kayla McCoy (3), Loren Guerra (1), Reighanna Guzman (1) |
| Assists |
Reighanna Guzman (34), Makenna Bartlett (3), Kyana Alvarez (2) |
| Digs |
Makenna Bartlett (12), Loren Guerra (12), Kyana Alvarez (9) |
GAME 2: #17 UT Tyler 3 - #24 Mary Hardin Baylor 1 (25-20, 26-24, 24-26, 25-23)
The second match of the day featured a Top-25 matchup as the Patriots hosted UMHB who sits at #24 in the AVCA Coaches Poll.
UT Tyler used a three-point run in the middle of the set to pull ahead 11-8. a second three-point run put the Patriots up 14-9. The Cru brought the set within four points before
Kayla McCoy recorded the set point.
The second set saw the Patriots and Cru play a neck and neck battle through the final point. The Patriots rallied from an early 0-5 deficit to tie the set at 21 in the late going. The tie was part of a six-point Patriot run that put UT Tyler ahead 24-21. three straight points from the Cru evened the set again before UT Tyler recorded the final two points of the set, pulling ahead 2-0.
The third set featured another tense battle that saw the Patriots and Cru play to nine ties. UMHB four of the final five points to claim the third set 26-24.
Despite trailing 12-17, UT Tyler defended their home court and erased a fifth set opportunity, scoring seven points in two separate runs to tie the game at 21. Down 21-23, UT Tyler recorded the final four points, claiming a 25-23 fourth set win and the match 3-1.
The second win of the day allowed UT Tyler to extend their winning streak to 13 games.
UT TYLER LEADERS:
| Kills |
Kaitlyn Budisalovich (18), Loren Guerra (15), Kayla McCoy(13) |
| Aces |
Makenna Bartlett (2), Loren Guerra (2), Kyana Alvarez (1) |
| Blocks |
Samantha Lee (4), Loren Guerra (3), Kayla McCoy (3) |
| Assists |
Reighanna Guzman (61), Kyana Alvarez (4), Emily Robison(3) |
| Digs |
Makenna Bartlett (25), Kyana Alvarez (16), Reighanna Guzman (14) |
#17 UT Tyler returns to action on Saturday with a 2:00 p.m. matchup against Concordia.
