THE LEAD
The Dallas Baptist Volleyball Team improved their overall record to 6-2 and extended their Heartland Conference record to 3-0 after defeating Texas A&M International 3-0. Cooper Martin and Lauren Nicks had match highs with 11 kills and 12 digs, respectively. While Kaycie Bird registered 17 assists.

Set one would begin as a tightly contested affair between the two squads with an early 3-3 tie. That changed as DBU opened a lead by scoring seven of the next ten points to take a 10-6 advantage over TAMIU. The Lady Patriots carried that momentum though the set going up by as much as ten points to create a 21-11 cushion against the Dustdevils. Behind six kills from Cooper Martin and five kills from Sidnee Jo Fitzpatrick during the set, Dallas Baptist eased to a 25-15 victory, taking a 1-0 lead in the match.

Starting slow in the early goings of the set, the Lady Patriots turned things around and made the second a complete rout. Behind Tadam Mergener's five kills during the set, multiple point streaks would give DBU a comfortable win. Dallas Baptist would score seven straight points to seal set two, winning 25-14, going up 2-0 in the match.

In the third set of the afternoon, the Lady Patriots were looking to put the Dustdevils away engineering a 22-16 lead late in the set. TAMIU's began to close the gap on DBU with a four point rally to bring Texas A&M International within two points trailing 22-20. Dallas Baptist would extinguish the Dustdevil's momentum by scoring the final three points taking set three, 25-20, and sweeping the Dustdevils, 3-0.  

COACH'S QUOTE
"Texas A&M International is a good program and has been playing some good volleyball and I think the girls just came in aggressive. The biggest thing we have going for us is that we pass the ball well and we can get it up to our setters. We have two great setters that can run a quick offense, no matter what we get. Doing what some teams consider small we focus on and I think that gave us an edge today." - Coach Cathy Kokel

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
2012 The last time DBU started the season 3-0 in Heartland Conference play.
.417  Hitting percentage registered by DBU in the first set.  
7       Number of blocks registered by DBU to TAMIU's 3.
6       Number of Service Aces scored by DBU.

WHAT'S NEXT
Dallas Baptist will hit the road to Fort Smith, Arkansas, where they will face the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith Lady Lions. The match is scheduled for Thursday, September 24, with the first set beginning at 7 pm.