SAN ANGELO, TEXAS – UT Tyler volleyball saw its Lone Star Conference Tournament run come to an end on Thursday morning, falling 3-1 (25-15, 18-25, 26-24, 25-21) to sixth-seeded Texas A&M-Kingsville at the Junell Center. The third-seeded Patriots battled back to even the match after dropping the opening set but were unable to overcome the Javelinas in a pair of tightly contested sets to close out the match.
UT Tyler struggled to find its offensive rhythm in the opening set, recording seven kills while hitting -.022. Texas A&M-Kingsville jumped out to an early advantage and used a late scoring run to build a commanding lead. The Patriots attempted to find momentum late in the set, but the Javelinas maintained control to take the opener 25-15.
The Patriots responded in the second set with a much stronger offensive performance. UT Tyler found its rhythm behind the play of Melanie Merrill and Miley Myers, putting together 11 kills and hitting .147. After the teams traded points early, the Patriots began to create separation with a strong stretch of play midway through the set.
UT Tyler used a four-point run to extend its advantage to 15-12 before continuing to build momentum. The Patriots maintained control down the stretch, scoring the final three points of the set to secure a 25-18 victory and even the match at one set apiece.
The third set featured a back-and-forth battle with neither team able to create much separation. UT Tyler opened with a strong start, scoring four consecutive points to establish an early advantage. The Javelinas responded and eventually pulled even, setting up a competitive finish.
The Patriots continued to trade points with Texas A&M-Kingsville throughout the closing stages. UT Tyler fought off the pressure and took a 24-23 lead following a kill from Mia Cross, but the Javelinas answered with three straight points to claim a 26-24 decision and regain the match advantage.
Facing a one-set deficit, the Patriots looked to force a deciding fifth set and continued to battle in the fourth. UT Tyler found itself trailing early before working back into the set, with Merrill providing a consistent offensive presence. The Patriots pulled even at 11-11 following a kill from Merrill, but Texas A&M-Kingsville answered with a run to create separation.
UT Tyler continued to fight, with Merrill delivering multiple kills down the stretch to keep the Patriots within striking distance. The Javelinas, however, maintained their advantage and closed out the match with a 25-21 fourth-set victory.
Merrill led the Patriots offensively with 23 kills while hitting .315, adding two block assists. Anna Arceneaux paced the defensive effort with 24 digs, while Riley Clinton finished with 28 assists and 10 digs. Myers contributed 12 kills, and Kailey Manes added four kills and five block assists. Makhai Lewis also finished with six block assists.
UT Tyler finished the match with 53 kills and 78 digs, while Texas A&M-Kingsville recorded 44 kills and 81 digs. The Javelinas held a 17-13 advantage in total blocks, helping limit the Patriots' offensive opportunities in the final two sets.
The loss brings an end to the Patriots' appearance in the Lone Star Conference Tournament following a 22-win regular season and a third-place finish in the conference standings.
