LAST TIME OUT
UT Tyler volleyball enters this week's matches with a 13-3 record after winning two of its three matches during the week.
The Patriots opened the week with a 3-0 sweep of St. Edward's at the Herrington Patriot Center, winning 27-25, 25-15 and 26-24 to improve to 12-2 overall and 3-1 in Lone Star Conference play. UT Tyler controlled the match at the net and from the service line, finishing with 41 kills, 10 total blocks, five service aces and 66 digs. Sydney Atkinson led the Patriots offensively with 11 kills while hitting .435 and adding four blocks. Maya Jones added 10 kills for the Patriots. Autumn Perry contributed eight kills, while Kailey Manes recorded four kills and a team-high seven blocks. Anna Arceneaux led the defensive effort with 20 digs.
UT Tyler followed with another straight-set victory Friday night, sweeping UT Permian Basin, 3-0, by scores of 25-21, 25-17 and 25-13. The win moved the Patriots to 13-2 overall and 4-1 in Lone Star Conference play. Manes paced the offensive attack with eight kills on 11 attacks for a .636 hitting percentage, adding three total blocks. Makhai Lewis added five kills without an attack error and contributed seven total blocks, while Atkinson recorded six kills and Perry added seven. Riley Clinton guided the offense with 15 assists, meanwhile Arceneaux led the defensive effort once again with 18 digs. UT Tyler totaled 59 digs and held the Falcons to a .035 team hitting percentage.
The Patriots closed out the week against Lone Star Conference leader Angelo State, falling 3-1 in a hard-fought matchup at the Herrington Patriot Center. UT Tyler dropped the opening two sets, 25-18 and 25-18, before responding with a 25-23 third-set victory. #7 Angelo State secured the match with a 25-19 fourth-set win, moving the Patriots to 13-3 overall and 4-2 in conference play. Lewis led UT Tyler with nine kills on 17 attacks, hitting .529 and adding six total blocks. Melanie Merrill also recorded nine kills. Atkinson added eight kills, while Miley Myers contributed eight kills in two sets. Clinton finished with 20 assists and six digs, while Arceneaux led the Patriots with 15 more digs.
PATS STATS
Through 16 matches, UT Tyler has received contributions throughout its lineup, led offensively by Melanie Merrill. The senior leads the Patriots with 132 kills and is averaging 2.36 kills per set while hitting .252. Merrill has also recorded 34 digs and 33 blocks on the season.
Maya Jones ranks second on the team with 122 kills and is averaging 2.39 kills per set while hitting .264. Sydney Atkinson has added 111 kills while averaging 2.02 kills per set, while Kailey Manes has recorded 100 kills and leads the Patriots with a .379 hitting percentage. Autumn Perry has contributed 114 kills while averaging 2.92 kills per set.
Defensively, Anna Arceneaux leads the Patriots with 255 digs and is averaging 4.55 digs per set. She has also recorded 161 service receptions with a .957 reception percentage. Mia Cross has added 111 digs, while Kaitlyn Davis has recorded 105 digs.
Riley Clinton has directed the Patriots' offense with 296 assists, averaging 5.29 assists per set, while Kate Christiansen has added 148 assists and is averaging 4.77 assists per set. Ava Collins has contributed 35 assists in nine matches.
PATRIOTS 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 193-86 record with the Patriots. In 21 seasons as a head coach, Mashe has compiled a 387-208 career record. She returns alongside assistant coach Kris Mashe and graduate assistant Paola Fragalle for the 2026 season.
LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN
Lubbock Christian enters the matchup with an 8-9 record and a 4-3 mark in Lone Star Conference play. The Chaparrals are hitting .176 as a team with 642 kills through 17 matches. Lubbock Christian has also recorded 92 service aces, 812 digs and 104.0 total blocks on the season. The Chaparrals are averaging 11.7 kills and 10.4 assists per set while limiting opponents to 12.4 kills and 11.5 assists per set. Lubbock Christian has also averaged 14.8 digs and 1.9 blocks per set, matching its opponents' 1.9 blocks per set. The Patriots currently hold a historical record of 6-1 against the Chaparrals.
MIDWESTERN STATE
Midwestern State enters the matchup with a 10-8 record and a 5-2 mark in Lone Star Conference play. The Mustangs are hitting .217 as a team with 897 kills through 18 matches. Midwestern State has also recorded 95 service aces, 1,038 digs and 76.0 total blocks on the season. The Mustangs are currently riding a four-match winning streak. The Mustangs are averaging 13.4 kills and 12.4 assists per set while limiting opponents to 13.0 kills and 12.0 assists per set. Midwestern State has also averaged 15.5 digs and 1.1 blocks per set, while opponents are averaging 14.7 digs and 1.6 blocks per set. Historically, the Patriots are 5-2 against the Mustangs.
