PORTALES, NEW MEXICO – UT Tyler volleyball earned a big road sweep on Saturday after taking down Eastern New Mexico 3-0 in LSC play.
The Patriots hit .357 as a team and three players alone hit over .400 as they totaled 48 kills to just 13 errors and adding 43 assists and 47 digs.
That offensive rout began quickly, as the Patriots ran out to a 7-2 lead to begin the first set.
Jackie Velzis,
Autumn Perry, and
Kailey Manes each picked up kills, and
Audrey Brandon added a solo block during the run. They would rip off a 5-0 run in the middle of the set behind Manes, Velzis and
Sydney Atkinson adding kills and Atkinson and Manes combining on a block.
UT Tyler kept the pedal down, closing the set on an 8-3 run as Perry and Brandon picked up kills on two of the final three points.
The second set saw the Greyhounds punch back early, battling to an 11-9 lead. Three points from the Patriots would give them the lead, but the Greyhounds again battled back and took the lead at 14-13.
That lead would be the final of the set for the Greyhounds, as UT Tyler went on a 12-3 run to close the set and earn a 25-17 win. That run featured three kills from
Kailey Manes, two from
Alyson Robbins, and one each from Atkinson and Perry as the Patriots cruised to the 2-0 lead.
Three kills from
Autumn Perry and another from Manes led to a 4-1 lead to begin the third set, but the Greyhounds closed with a 6-2 run to take a 7-6 lead. Five straight points from UT Tyler would see them take the lead again as Atkinson and Robbins each added two kills, but the Greyhounds again kept battling back and staying within arms reach.
Despite the late rally, the Patriots would close the match with 10 kills in their final 12 points, putting the exclamation point on a strong offensive day on the road.
Autumn Perry connected on 17 kills and a .424 hitting percentage while Atkinson and Manes added nine and eight kills.
Saige Rivera and
Riley Clinton added 17 and 15 assists, and
Anna Arceneaux picked up 17 digs.
UT Tyler will be back in action on Tuesday evening as they hit the road to face off with St. Mary's in midweek LSC competition.