ARKADELPHIA, ARK. – UT Tyler volleyball remained perfect on the season Friday morning, sweeping Union, 3-0 (25-15, 25-12, 25-20), at the Reddie-Tiger Invitational. The Patriots improve to 6-0 on the season, continuing their best start to a season since opening 6-0 in 2021.
The Patriots came out firing in the opening set, trading points with Union through the early stages before beginning to create separation. UT Tyler held a 7-5 advantage before a strong stretch at the service line and continued pressure offensively helped the Patriots extend their lead.
Riley Clinton sparked the offense during a key stretch, recording a service ace before setting up Alyson Robbins and Sydney Atkinson for consecutive kills. UT Tyler continued to build its advantage, taking a 20-10 lead before Union attempted to close the gap.
The Patriots answered every challenge down the stretch, getting kills from Kailey Manes and Maya Jones before Anna Arceneaux delivered a service ace. Jones then closed the opening frame with a kill to give UT Tyler a 25-15 victory.
UT Tyler carried its momentum into the second set, quickly building a 5-2 advantage. The Patriots continued to apply pressure at the net and from the service line, using a run that included kills from Jones, Robbins and Makhai Lewis to push the lead to 11-5.
Arceneaux then took over from the service line, recording consecutive aces as the Patriots stretched their advantage to 12-5. UT Tyler continued to capitalize on Union errors while Lewis and Jones added kills, allowing the Patriots to take a commanding 21-11 lead.
The Patriots closed the set with four of the final five points, including a service ace from Kaitlyn Davis and a kill from Miley Myers, to take the second set, 25-12, and move within one set of the sweep.
The Patriots opened the third set with an early 3-1 lead, but Union quickly responded to take a 3-5 lead. The Patriots bounced back using consecutive kills from Jones to take a 10-6 lead.
Union battled back and eventually tied the set at 10-10, but UT Tyler regained control behind kills from Kate Christiansen, Atkinson and Lewis. The Patriots continued to maintain a narrow advantage throughout the middle portion of the set before building a 24-17 lead.
Union cut the deficit to 24-20 late, but UT Tyler remained composed. The Patriots scored the final point after a Union service error sealed the 25-20 set victory and the 3-0 sweep.
Jones led the Patriots offensively with 11 kills while hitting .474, while Robbins added eight kills on a .500 hitting percentage. Lewis recorded six kills while hitting .667, and Manes contributed five kills while hitting .400.
Clinton and Christiansen shared the setting duties, with Clinton recording 16 assists and Christiansen adding 15. Arceneaux led the Patriots with three service aces and 10 digs, while Davis added eight digs. UT Tyler finished the match with 38 kills, six service aces, seven blocks and 32 digs while hitting .317 as a team.
The Patriots continue play at the Reddie-Tiger Invitational Friday afternoon, taking on Arkansas-Pine Bluff at 1 p.m. in their third match of the tournament.
