TYLER, TEXAS – The University of Texas at Tyler volleyball team defended home court with ease on Tuesday night with a 3-0 sweep of Texas A&M-Commerce inside the Herrington Patriot Center.
 
The Patriots (5-0, 5-0 LSC) made quick work of their fellow undefeated opposition, rolling the Lions (2-1, 2-1 LSC) in 25-15 and 25-12 first and second set victories to remain the lone undefeated squad in the Lone Star Conference Central Division standings. Mikayla Ware once again proved to be a difference maker on the court for the Patriots as the junior recorded a double-double in just the three sets of action with 13 kills and 12 digs.
 
Ware's team-high 13 kills were not without support, however, as Kylee Becker also reached double-digits in the kills category with 11 on the night.
 
UT Tyler moves to 5-0 with the win, and will look to create even more separation between the Patriots and Lions at the top of the Central Division standings tomorrow night in a rematch of the squads inside the Herrington Patriot Center.
 
How it Happened: UT Tyler entered Tuesday evening's contest looking to solidify themselves among the Lone Star Conference's best after a 4-0 opening two weeks of the season, and ultimately did just that as they opened up a 10-6 lead over the Lions and never looked back in set number one. The league's top-ranked statistical offense took a back seat in the first frame to a superb defensive output for the Patriots, limiting Texas A&M-Commerce to a hitting percentage of -.081 in set number one.
 
That defensive work for UT Tyler allowed for just six kills total for the Lions in the first set. UT Tyler continued to extend that early advantage, leading by as many as 10 at the 23-13 mark. Becker ended the opening set with an emphatic solo block to put the Patriots up one set to zero.
 
Set number two was much of the same as the deep Patriot offense started to wear on the Lion defense. UT Tyler committed just two attacking errors in the second set, posting a team hitting percentage of .382.
 
Four straight Lion errors opened up a 6-2 Patriot advantage, an advantage that Texas A&M-Commerce would narrow to 7-5 just a few moments later. UT Tyler opened up the offensive floodgates from that point forward, posting six straight kills to break open the set with a 12-5 advantage. The Patriots truly earned the dominate second set as the Lions posted just five errors, but had no answers for a dominate Patriot attack.
 
Texas A&M-Commerce came to life in the third set, responding from an early 11-8 deficit with six straight points of their own to flip the script on UT Tyler and gain the 14-11 advantage. UT Tyler recorded four of the next six points to narrow the deficit back down to 16-15 before tying the set up at 17-17 a few points later. Texas A&M-Commerce rattled off three straight points with the game once again tied at 18-18 to gain the 21-18 advantage.

That run allowed the Lions to sit at set point at the 24-22 mark, but UT Tyler came storming back with four straight points to win the set themselves by a two-point margin, completing the 3-0 sweep.
 
By the Numbers: UT Tyler dominated the kill count for the game, totaling 46 to Texas A&M-Commerce's 28… UT Tyler hit .246 for the game… Their best offensive set came in the second set as they hit .382 as a team and committed just two errors… The Patriots out-pointed the Lions by a 54-to-34 final tally… The Patriots ultimately bettered the Lions in all six major statistical categories including: points (54), kills (46), aces (3), blocks (5), assists (42) and digs (58).
 
Patriot Standouts: Ware hit .281 for the night with 13 kills on 32 swings… Hattie Murray (.455) and Christina Escamilla (.385) were both incredibly efficient on the night… Murray had five kills on 11 swings and did not commit a single attacking error… Escamilla has six kills on 13 swings and just a single error… Hannah Callison finished third on the team with eight kills… Savannah Guzman led the squad with 14 digs and also totaled six assists… Taylor Stoops has posted 20 or more assists in all but one game this season, finishing with 22 on Tuesday night.
 
What's Next: UT Tyler and Texas A&M-Commerce will return to the court tomorrow evening for their second match in as many nights. First serve for that contest inside the Herrington Patriot Center is set for 6 p.m.