LAST TIME OUT
UT Tyler volleyball enters its next matches with a 9-1 record after opening the season with nine wins in its first 10 matches.
UT Tyler opened the season with a perfect 4-0 weekend at the Mulerider Invitational, marking the first time since 2023 that the Patriots had gone 4-0 to start the year. UT Tyler opened the weekend with a 3-0 sweep of Arkansas-Monticello before taking down No. 12 Central Oklahoma, 3-1. The Patriots closed the tournament with sweeps of LeMoyne-Owen and a 3-1 victory over host Southern Arkansas.
The Patriots carried that momentum into the Reddie-Tiger Invitational, going 4-0 to move to 8-0 on the season. UT Tyler opened the tournament with a five-set victory over Ouachita Baptist before sweeping Union, Division I Arkansas Pine Bluff and Mississippi Christian to complete another perfect weekend.
UT Tyler continued its strong start at the LSC Challenge, sweeping Texas Woman's in its opening match before dropping a 3-1 decision to St. Mary's. The loss marked the Patriots' first of the season after opening the year with nine consecutive victories.
PATS STATS
Through 10 matches, UT Tyler has received contributions throughout its lineup, led by Week One AVCA National Player of the Week Melanie Merrill. The Senior has established herself as one of the Patriots' top offensive threats after a dominant performance at the Mulerider Invitational.
Merrill played all 14 sets at the Mulerider Invitational and recorded 51 kills, 11 blocks and 58 points while hitting .458. She averaged 3.65 kills and 4.14 points per set, committing just seven errors on 96 attacks. Merrill became the second Patriot in program history to earn AVCA National Player of the Week honors.
Jones has also been a consistent offensive contributor, ranking second on the team with 72 kills and averaging 2.18 kills per set. She is hitting .283 on the season and has added 15 blocks through 10 matches. Kailey Manes has provided another strong offensive presence for the Patriots, ranking third on the team with 65 kills where she is second in blocks with 30.
Defensively, Anna Arceneaux leads the Patriots with 158 digs and is averaging 4.51 digs per set. She has also recorded 100 service receptions with a .960 reception percentage. Riley Clinton has directed the offense with 185 assists, averaging 5.29 assists per set, while Ava Collins has added 94 assists in 20 sets.
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 189-84 (.692) record with the Patriots. In 21 seasons as a head coach, Mashe has compiled a 383-206 (.650) career record. She returns alongside assistant coach Kris Mashe and graduate assistant Paola Fragalle for the 2026 season.
Cameron
Cameron enters the matchup with an 0-10 record after opening the 2026 season with 10 consecutive losses. The Aggies have recorded three set victories through 10 matches while dropping 30 sets. Cameron is hitting .097 as a team with 312 kills and averages 9.5 kills per set. The Aggies have also recorded 33 service aces, 498 digs and 53 total blocks this season. UT Tyler leads the all-time series 7-0, with the first meeting coming in 2019.
Oklahoma Christian
Oklahoma Christian enters the matchup with a 5-5 record after facing three nationally ranked opponents during the opening two weeks of the season. The Eagles opened the year with a loss to No. 8 Washburn before earning three consecutive victories and have also faced No. 16 Missouri Western State and No. 14 Southwest Minnesota State. Oklahoma Christian is hitting .211 as a team with 457 kills and averages 12.4 kills and 11.7 assists per set. The Eagles have also recorded 58 service aces and 524 digs through 10 matches. UT Tyler leads the all-time series 5-0, with the first meeting coming in 2021.
