Box Score

The red-hot DBU Lady Patriot Volleyball Team earned their sixth straight Heartland Conference win, Saturday, sweeping Newman University, 3-0. The Lady Patriots take the season series over the Jets after beating the club at home, 3-0, back on Sept. 12.
 
Dallas Baptist moves to 10-11 overall, having now won 6-of-7 contests, improving to 8-3 in conference play. The Lady Patriots remain second in the Heartland, behind University of Arkansas-Ft. Smith (UAFS), which entered Saturday 10-0 in league play.
 
After an early tie at one, DBU was in control the entire first set, leading all the way to a 25-16 win. The second frame took a comeback effort, as Newman led by as many as five at 17-12, before the Lady Patriots came storming back for a 25-22 win.
 
With DBU leading the match, 2-0, the third set started tight, with the two clubs tied, 8-8. The Lady Patriots proceeded on a seven-point run and held off a late Newman surge, taking the frame, 25-22, and completing the 3-0 sweep.
 
Erika Papadeas and Tadam Mergener each earned double-doubles in the win. Papadeas registered a match-high 13 kills to go with 12 digs, with Mergener scoring 11 kills and 14 digs. Tyler Bradsher earned 24 assists, with Kaycie Bird passing off 15.
 
"Our setters ran a consistent and quick offense today," said DBU Head Coach Cathy Kokel. "That led to our great hitting."
 
Defensively, Cameron Hartson had a match-high 22 digs, with Bird completing the double-digit dig effort with 13. Markayla Benoit and Tiara Iwegbu were dominant at the net, earning seven and five blocks, respectively.
 
"Cameron (Hartson) leads the back row so well, we are playing great defense," added the DBU coach. "We are starting to touch a lot of balls at the net blocking, as well."
 
Newman drops their second straight contest, following a seven-match win streak, now standing at 11-8, 5-6 in conference play. Jeana Farruggia earned a team-high 12 kills, with 22 assists coming from Alexus Litts. Tori Alderson had 14 digs, with Lexi Kuharich contributing 10.
 
The Lady Patriots travel next to Midwestern St., Tuesday, for a 7 p.m. non-conference contest. They then begin a five-match home stand with a doubleheader, next Saturday, hosting UAFS and Texas Woman's University. Those games are slated for 12 and 4:30 p.m., respectively.