TYLER, TEXAS – UT Tyler volleyball battled Lone Star Conference leader Angelo State Saturday afternoon at the Herrington Patriot Center, with the Patriots falling 3-1 in a hard-fought conference matchup. UT Tyler dropped the first two sets, 25-18 and 25-18, before responding with a 25-23 victory in the third set. Angelo State closed out the match with a 25-19 fourth-set win.
The Patriots move to 13-3 overall and 4-2 in Lone Star Conference play following the match. UT Tyler finished the afternoon with 45 kills, 43 assists, 49 digs and 11 total blocks.
UT Tyler came out strong in the opening set, hitting .423 with 12 kills and just one attack error. The Patriots traded points with Angelo State early before the Rambelles created separation late in the set. Makhai Lewis and Sydney Atkinson helped lead the offensive attack, while the Patriots also recorded three blocks in the opening frame.
The second set remained competitive early, with UT Tyler keeping pace before Angelo State pulled away midway through the frame. Lewis continued to provide an offensive spark, while Atkinson and Melanie Merrill contributed kills as the Patriots looked to answer.
UT Tyler responded with its strongest stretch of the afternoon in the third set. The Patriots trailed 15-11 before battling back and eventually tying the set at 21-21. Merrill delivered a pair of kills during the late run, while Miley Myers came through with back-to-back kills to put UT Tyler ahead 23-22 and 24-23, before a Lewis block ended the set 25-23.
Lewis paced the Patriots offensively with nine kills on 17 attacks while hitting .529 and adding six total blocks for a team-high 13.5 points. Merrill also recorded nine kills, while Atkinson finished with eight kills. Myers added eight kills despite playing in two sets.
Riley Clinton recorded 20 assists and six digs, while Ava Collins added 13 assists. Anna Arceneaux led the defensive effort with 15 digs, followed by Mia Cross with 10.
The Patriots return to action next week as they continue Lone Star Conference play.
