ARKADELPHIA, ARK. – UT Tyler volleyball remained perfect on the season Thursday afternoon, battling back from a 2-1 deficit to defeat Ouachita Baptist, 3-2 (25-18, 24-26, 22-25, 25-9, 15-8), in the opening match of the Reddie-Tiger Invitational at the Sturgis Physical Education Center. With the victory, the Patriots improve to 5-0 on the season, marking the first time UT Tyler has opened a season 5-0 since 2021.
The Patriots took control early in the opening set, using a balanced offensive attack to build a 10-5 advantage. UT Tyler continued to apply pressure at the net and from the service line, extending its lead to 17-10 before Ouachita Baptist attempted to rally.
UT Tyler answered the challenge and closed the opening frame on a 3-1 run. Melanie Merrill delivered a key kill late in the set before Makhai Lewis followed with a service ace to give the Patriots a 25-18 opening-set victory.
Ouachita Baptist responded in the second set, with the two teams battling throughout the frame. The Tigers built a lead midway through the set, but UT Tyler continued to fight and eventually pulled even at 17-17 following a service ace from Mia Cross. The Patriots took a 23-22 lead late before Ouachita Baptist answered with four of the final five points to take the set, 26-24.
The third set remained tight from start to finish which featured nine ties. UT Tyler held a 17-16 advantage before the Tigers moved ahead and eventually built a 20-17 lead. The Patriots continued to battle, cutting the deficit to 24-22, but Ouachita Baptist closed out the set to take a 2-1 match advantage.
Facing its first 2-set deficit of the season, UT Tyler responded in emphatic fashion.
The Patriots opened the fourth set with four straight points and never looked back. UT Tyler continued to pile on the pressure, using kills from Lewis, Alyson Robbins and Merrill to build an 11-3 advantage.
A dominant serving run from Anna Arceneaux helped the Patriots turn the set into a rout. UT Tyler scored 10 consecutive points during the run, pushing its advantage from 11-6 to 21-6. The Patriots closed the set with a 25-9 victory, forcing a deciding fifth set.
UT Tyler carried that momentum into the final frame, racing out to a 5-0 lead. The Patriots continued to control the deciding set, building advantages of 8-3 and 11-5 before Ouachita Baptist attempted to close the gap.
UT Tyler remained composed down the stretch, getting kills from Merrill and Robbins before Jones delivered the final point to seal the 15-8 fifth-set victory and the 3-2 comeback.
Jones led the Patriots offensively with 14 kills while hitting .433 and adding three blocks. Merrill finished with 10 kills and hit .348, while Lewis recorded six kills, three service aces and five blocks. Kailey Manes added nine kills while hitting .400 and contributing five blocks.
Riley Clinton directed the offense with 20 assists and added four kills and a service ace. Ava Collins contributed 16 assists, while Arceneaux recorded 18 digs and two service aces. The Patriots finished the match with 57 kills, 11 aces and 10 total blocks.
UT Tyler continues play at the Reddie-Tiger Invitational on Friday, facing Union at 9 a.m. before taking on Arkansas-Pine Bluff at 1 p.m.
