LAST TIME OUT

UT Tyler volleyball enters this week's matches riding a four-match winning streak after completing a perfect 3-0 week in Lone Star Conference play. The Patriots swept St. Mary's and Sul Ross State before earning a five-set road victory over Western New Mexico to improve to 19-4 overall and 10-3 in conference play.

The Patriots opened the week with a dominant 3-0 sweep of St. Mary's on Tuesday night at the Herrington Patriot Center, winning by scores of 25-12, 25-15 and 25-16. UT Tyler avenged an earlier-season 3-1 loss to the Rattlers and delivered one of its most efficient offensive performances of the season, recording 41 kills with just five errors on 79 attacks to hit .456 as a team. The Patriots established control early, hitting .577 in the opening set with 16 kills on 26 attacks before continuing to dictate the pace throughout the match. Miley Myers led the Patriots with nine kills while hitting .400, while the offense limited St. Mary's to 27 kills and a .080 hitting percentage. UT Tyler also forced 20 Rattler attack errors to secure the straight-set victory.

UT Tyler carried its momentum onto the road Thursday, earning another 3-0 sweep with a 25-21, 25-23 and 25-14 victory over Sul Ross State in Alpine. The Patriots overcame a late push from the Lobos in the opening set before rallying from a four-point deficit in the second to take a 2-0 match lead. After Sul Ross State closed within 22-21 in the first set, UT Tyler scored the final three points to secure the frame. The Patriots faced another challenge in the second, trailing 19-15 before battling back to tie the set and eventually close out a 25-23 win. UT Tyler then dominated the third set, putting together a 12-0 scoring run to build a 19-6 advantage and cruise to the sweep. Maya Jones led the Patriots with 11 kills while adding three blocks, while Riley Clinton contributed 26 assists, nine kills and a season-high 10 digs. Anna Arceneaux paced the defensive effort with 20 digs. The Patriots hit .405 in the final set and continued their strong offensive stretch, recording at least 45 kills in three consecutive matches.

The Patriots closed out the week Saturday with a hard-fought five-set victory over Western New Mexico in Silver City, rallying to take the match 25-21, 25-14, 22-25, 16-25 and 15-9. UT Tyler jumped out to a 2-0 advantage before the Mustangs responded by winning the next two sets to force a decisive fifth. The Patriots answered with their most efficient offensive set of the match, recording 10 kills without an error on 25 attempts to hit .400 and secure the road victory. Miley Myers led the offense with 16 kills, while Kailey Manes added 14 kills on a .538 hitting percentage and seven total blocks. Melanie Merrill contributed 13 kills, Clinton paced the offense with 48 assists and Arceneaux led the defensive effort with 16 digs. UT Tyler finished with 58 kills, 75 digs, five service aces and nine total blocks to complete the perfect week.

The Patriots improved to 19-4 overall and 10-3 in Lone Star Conference play with the three victories, extending their winning streak to four matches as they continue their push through the conference schedule.

PATS STATS

Through 23 matches, UT Tyler has received contributions throughout its lineup, led offensively by Maya Jones. Jones leads the Patriots with 176 kills and is averaging 2.32 kills per set while hitting .256. Melanie Merrill has added 166 kills, averaging 2.18 kills per set while hitting .240, while Kailey Manes has recorded 152 kills and leads the team with a .405 hitting percentage. Autumn Perry has contributed 146 kills and is averaging 2.75 kills per set, while Sydney Atkinson has added 121 kills. Miley Myers has recorded 113 kills in 15 matches and leads the Patriots with 2.83 kills per set.

Defensively, Anna Arceneaux leads the Patriots with 333 digs and is averaging 4.44 digs per set. She has also recorded 252 service receptions with a .952 reception percentage. Kaitlyn Davis has added 151 digs, while Mia Cross has recorded 144 digs. At the net, Makhai Lewis leads UT Tyler with 89 total blocks, including 13 solo blocks and 76 block assists. Manes has contributed 83 total blocks, including eight solo blocks and 75 block assists, while Jones has added 50 total blocks.

Riley Clinton has directed the Patriots' offense with 475 assists, averaging 5.86 assists per set, while Ava Collins has added 170 assists in 12 matches and is averaging 4.72 assists per set. Kate Christiansen has contributed 157 assists while averaging 4.49 assists per set, giving the Patriots multiple options to lead the offense. Cross leads the team with 35 service aces, while Lewis has added 23 and Clinton has recorded 18.

PATS NEWS AND NOTES

• UT Tyler finished the 2025 season with a 17-12 overall record and 12-5 mark in Lone Star Conference play, advancing to the LSC Championship Semifinals for the second consecutive season. Autumn Perry earned All-Lone Star Conference First Team honors after leading the Patriots with 3.49 kills per set and 339 total kills. Kailey Manes and Jackie Velzis were named to the LSC All-Tournament Team, while Anna Arceneaux earned All-LSC Honorable Mention and LSC All-Freshman Team honors.

• Arceneaux returns for her sophomore season after a standout freshman campaign. She earned All-Lone Star Conference Honorable Mention, LSC All-Freshman Team and LSC Freshman of the Week honors during the 2025 season. She finished the year with 426 digs and averaged 4.79 digs per set, ranking among the top defensive players in the conference.

• Head coach Lyndsay Mashe is in her 11th season at UT Tyler and owns a 199-87 record with the Patriots. In 21 seasons as a head coach, Mashe has compiled a 393-209 career record. She returns alongside assistant coach Kris Mashe and graduate assistant Paola Fragalle for the 2026 season.

JAVELINAS

Texas A&M-Kingsville enters the matchup with a 16-8 overall record and a 9-4 mark in Lone Star Conference play, coming off a win in its most recent match. The Javelinas are hitting .207 as a team with 1,220 kills through 24 matches. Texas A&M-Kingsville has also recorded 129 service aces, 1,650 digs and 181.0 total blocks on the season. The Javelinas are averaging 13.1 kills and 12.2 assists per set while allowing opponents 12.1 kills and 11.5 assists per set. Defensively, Texas A&M-Kingsville is averaging 17.7 digs and 1.9 blocks per set, compared to opponents' averages of 16.8 digs and 1.8 blocks per set. The Javelinas have committed 125 reception errors while opponents have recorded 129. Historically, the Patriots hold a 5-4 record against Texas A&M-Kingsville since 2019.

DUSTDEVILS

Texas A&M International enters the matchup with an 8-16 overall record and a 2-11 mark in Lone Star Conference play, coming off a loss in its most recent match. The Dustdevils are hitting .180 as a team with 1,015 kills through 24 matches. Texas A&M International has also recorded 152 service aces, 1,228 digs and 135.0 total blocks on the season. The Dustdevils are averaging 11.5 kills and 10.7 assists per set while allowing opponents 12.2 kills and 11.4 assists per set. Defensively, Texas A&M International is averaging 14.0 digs and 1.5 blocks per set, compared to opponents' averages of 14.8 digs and 1.6 blocks per set. The Dustdevils have committed 161 reception errors while opponents have recorded 152. Historically, the Patriots hold a 5-2 record against Texas A&M International since 2019.