LAST TIME OUT
UT Tyler volleyball enters this week's match with an 11-2 record after earning a straight-set victory over UT Dallas on Saturday to improve to 2-1 in Lone Star Conference play.
The Patriots controlled the opening set behind an efficient offensive attack, recording 13 kills with just two errors on 29 attacks to hit .379. UT Tyler continued its strong offensive performance in the second set with 15 kills and three errors while hitting .273. The Patriots closed out the sweep in the third set, recording 13 kills and limiting UT Dallas to a .050 hitting percentage.
UT Tyler finished the match with 41 kills and a .259 hitting percentage while holding the Comets to a .152 mark. The Patriots also held advantages in aces, 4-3, blocks, 6-1, assists, 40-36, and digs, 52-47.
Maya Jones led the Patriots with 10 kills, while Autumn Perry and Sydney Atkinson each added nine. Perry hit .471 with nine kills and just one error, while Kailey Manes added six kills without an attack error to hit .600.
Anna Arceneaux led the defensive effort with 15 digs, while Makhai Lewis added nine. UT Tyler also finished with six total blocks as the Patriots' defense helped secure the sweep.
The victory marked UT Tyler's 11th win of the season and sent the Patriots home for the first time in 2026. UT Tyler will open its home schedule Wednesday against St. Edward's in Lone Star Conference play. First serve is set for 6 p.m. at the Louise Herrington Patriot Center.
PATS STATS
Through 13 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 continued to provide a consistent offensive presence for the Patriots, ranking second on the team with 105 kills and averaging 2.44 kills per set. She is hitting .277 on the season and has added 19 blocks through 13 matches. Kailey Manes ranks fourth on the team with 86 kills and leads UT Tyler with a .374 hitting percentage. She has also recorded 35 blocks on the season.
Defensively, Anna Arceneaux leads the Patriots with 202 digs and is averaging 4.39 digs per set. She has also recorded 126 service receptions with a .960 reception percentage. Riley Clinton has directed the offense with 251 assists, averaging 5.46 assists per set, while Kate Christiansen has added 117 assists in 25 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 191-85 record with the Patriots. In 21 seasons as a head coach, Mashe has compiled a 385-207 career record. She returns alongside assistant coach Kris Mashe and graduate assistant Paola Fragalle for the 2026 season.
St. Edward's
St. Edward's enters the matchup with a 7-7 record after splitting its first four Lone Star Conference matches. The Hilltoppers are hitting .183 as a team with 685 kills and average 12.9 kills per set. St. Edward's has also recorded 80 service aces, 767 digs and 63 total blocks this season. The Hilltoppers most recently fell to Lubbock Christian in straight sets after earning a 3-0 win over Midwestern State. UT Tyler leads the all-time series 5-2, with the first meeting coming in 2019.
UT Permian Basin
UT Permian Basin enters the matchup with a 5-5 record and a 0-4 mark in Lone Star Conference play after dropping four consecutive conference matches. The Falcons are hitting .185 as a team with 476 kills and average 12.2 kills per set. UT Permian Basin has also recorded 55 service aces, 702 digs and 69 total blocks this season. The Falcons most recently fell to Cameron and Oklahoma Christian in five-set matches at home. UT Tyler leads the all-time series 4-1, with the first meeting coming in 2021.
Angelo State
Angelo State enters the matchup with a 14-1 record and a perfect 4-0 mark in Lone Star Conference play, riding a six-match winning streak. The Rambelles are hitting .257 as a team with 780 kills and average 13.9 kills per set. Angelo State has also recorded 109 service aces, 928 digs and 97 total blocks this season. The Rambelles most recently earned conference wins over Oklahoma Christian and Cameron, winning 3-1 and 3-2, respectively. Angelo State leads the all-time series 8-4, with the first meeting coming in 2019.
