LAST TIME OUT

UT Tyler volleyball enters this week's matches with a 10-2 record after splitting its opening two Lone Star Conference matches on the road.

The Patriots opened conference play with a 3-1 victory over Cameron, using a strong fourth set to close out the Aggies and improve to 10-1 overall and 1-0 in league play. Autumn Perry led the Patriots offensively with 17 kills, while Melanie Merrill and Sydney Atkinson added 10 kills apiece. Riley Clinton directed the offense with 30 assists, while Anna Arceneaux led the defensive effort with 21 digs.

UT Tyler then traveled to Oklahoma Christian on Saturday, taking the opening set before falling 3-1 to the Eagles. Maya Jones led the Patriots with a match-high 16 kills while hitting .440, while Atkinson added nine kills and Perry finished with seven kills and four blocks. The Patriots held a 10-7 advantage in blocks, led by Makhai Lewis with seven total blocks.

PATS STATS

Through 12 matches, UT Tyler has received contributions throughout its lineup, led by Week One AVCA National Player of the Week Melanie Merrill. The senior continues to lead the Patriots offensively with 111 kills and 2.58 kills per set while hitting .287. Merrill has also recorded 24 blocks and 125 points on the season.

Maya Jones ranks second on the team with 95 kills and is averaging 2.38 kills per set while hitting .288. She has also added 22 digs and 17 blocks. Autumn Perry has provided another strong offensive presence with 88 kills, averaging 3.14 kills per set, while hitting .242. Perry has also contributed 32 digs and 11 blocks.

Defensively, Anna Arceneaux leads the Patriots with 187 digs and is averaging 4.35 digs per set. She has also recorded 113 service receptions with a .965 reception percentage. Kaitlyn Davis has 78 digs, while Mia Cross has 76.

Riley Clinton has directed the Patriots' offense with 237 assists, averaging 5.51 assists per set, while Kate Christiansen has added 97 assists in 22 sets. Ava Collins has contributed 95 assists while averaging 4.52 assists per set.

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 190-85 record with the Patriots. In 21 seasons as a head coach, Mashe has compiled a 384-207 career record. She returns alongside assistant coach Kris Mashe and graduate assistant Paola Fragalle for the 2026 season.

UT DALLAS

UT Dallas enters the matchup with a 6-5 record and a 2-0 mark in Lone Star Conference play after opening league action with wins over Oklahoma Christian and Cameron. The Comets are hitting .175 as a team with 509 kills. UT Dallas has also recorded 80 service aces, 654 digs and 71.0 blocks through 11 matches. The Comets have won their last two matches, sweeping Oklahoma Christian before earning a 3-1 victory over Cameron. UT Dallas leads the all-time series 25-14, with the first meeting coming in 2007.