CANYON, TEXAS – UT Tyler volleyball dropped their Friday night match to #13 West Texas A&M by a score of 3-0 on the road in LSC play.
 
The Patriots hit .106 for the match while the Lady Buffs hit .317 to push them to the sweep.
 
UT Tyler started hot, ripping off a 5-0 run behind kills from Kailey Manes and Chelsea Caskey and three errors from the Lady Buffs. They would continue to hold their lead up to 12-8, picking up kills from Autumn Perry and Jackie Velzis to continue the early advantage.
 
The Lady Buffs would dig deep, ripping off a 9-2 run to battle back and take the lead at 17-14, but the Patriots answered with a 5-1 run to take the lead back at 19-18. However, one final push from the Lady Buffs saw a 7-1 run that would close out the set at 25-20.
 
In the second set, a 9-4 run from the Lady Buffs opened up their lead, but the Patriots dug deep as Sydney Atkinson ripped off two kills and then teamed with Audrey Brandon on a key block. Brandon and Perry would add another kill each to cut the lead down to 16-14 as the Patriots continued to stay within arms reach. Ultimately, that run came up just short, as a 5-1 run to close out the set gave the Lady Buffs the 2-0 lead.
 
A 6-3 start from West Texas A&M opened up the third set, but Perry, Brandon, and Velzis pushed the Patriots attack back within one. The Patriots would stay close with kills from Velzis and Atkinson, but a 9-3 run from West Texas A&M would give them the gap they needed to lead themselves to the 3-0 win.
 
Autumn Perry hit .348 for the match with 10 kills while adding in a service ace. Saige Rivera and Riley Clinton dished out 14 and 15 assists, while Perry and Anna Arceneaux added 16 and 12 digs to lead the Patriots.
 
UT Tyler gets a chance to bounce back on Saturday afternoon as they take on Eastern New Mexico at 12 p.m. central time, 11 a.m. mountain time in Portales, New Mexico.