TYLER, TEXAS – UT Tyler couldn't find a way to ride the momentum of a fast start to fall 3-1 (19-25, 25-18, 25-16, 25-18) at the hands of (RV) DBU on Wednesday night inside the Herrington Patriot Center.
The Patriots opened play with an 11-3 run in the opening frame in route to a 25-19 first set victory, but couldn't overcome a strong serving night from DBU to fall for just the second time in Lone Star Conference play. Freshman
Shaye Koski notched a double-double with a team high 12 kills to go along with 11 digs.
Setter
Adeline Ortman joined Koski with double-double figures with 20 assists and 14 digs.
DBU put forth 16 aces in the match to slow down the Patriot momentum following the first set of play and managed to rattle off three straight set victories on the heels of the strong night at the service line. UT Tyler posted a better hitting percentage on the night with 41 kills on 133 swings for a .173 mark, but managed to eclipse double-digit kill figures in just one of the final three sets of action.
UT Tyler put down 15 kills on 40 swings in the opening set that saw the Patriots lead by 10 at the 21-11 mark. DBU answered with a run of eight unanswered points midway through the second frame, leading to a 25-18 second set victory.
Another back-and-forth start to set number three ultimately landed in favor of DBU after another strong run of points at the midway point. UT Tyler managed kill totals of just seven and eight in the second and third sets.
UT Tyler kept it close in the fourth set looking for a deciding fifth set, but a 5-1 run to close out the frame solidified the DBU victory.
Sophomore
Jeorgia Jones went for eight kills on just 18 swings for a .389 hitting percentage. Classmate
Jackie Velzis added nine kills to the effort.
UT Tyler falls to 9-7 on the year and 3-2 and Lone Star Conference play, while DBU's victory moves their overall record to 12-4 on the year and a perfect 5-0 in Lone Star Conference play.
The Patriots will return to the court inside the Herrington Patriot Center on Saturday afternoon with a 2 p.m. first serve against Western New Mexico.
