THE RUNDOWN
The Lady Patriots (10-16) (3-6) fell in straight sets in their Thursday evening contest against Arkansas Fort Smith (16-10) (6-3) inside the Stubblefield Center. Sophomore Brooke Clark led DBU with 11 kills, while Junior Emma Eakin posted eight of her own. Senior Kasey Holand recorded 12 digs and two kills, while senior Lauren Nicks registered a team-high 23 digs. Junior Strealy Sizelove recorded 11 assists, while Merci Perry added 10 of her own.

DBU and UAFS battled early, but it was the Lady Lions who came out with the 15-9 lead led by Anna Demmer and Taylor Stoops. Brooke Clark led the offensive attack with four kills, but DBU called its first timeout down 20-13 to regroup late in the first set. After the break, the Lady Lions kept the pressure on the Lady Patriots going onto take the first set 25-15.

UAFS jumped out to a quick 7-3 lead in the second set, but the Lady Patriots would not go quietly, knotting the match up at 8-8, and then taking the lead up 9-8. The two teams swapped points to 15 all, until DBU took its first lead of the match up 18-16. UAFS stormed back with a 5-1 run to take a 21-19 lead that forced DBU into a timeout. Out of the break, UAFS held off DBU for the narrow 25-22 victory.

Down 2-0, DBU looked to extend the match in the third set. UAFS jumped out to a 7-2 lead led by Lexi Castillow and Debra Rogers. Later in the set, UAFS went on a 4-2 run to extend their lead to 16-9 sending DBU into their first timeout of the set. After the break, the Lady Patriots went on a 6-2 run to make the score 18-15 in favor of the Lions. DBU would tie the set up at 20 all off a Hannah Tawney kill, but UAFS held off DBU to complete the sweep, 25-23.

KEY STORYLINES
 
- DBU posted 73 digs on the evening, the teams highest in over a week.
- DBU recorded 29 total kills.
- Strealy Sizelove has registered over 400 assists this season, with 11 on the evening.
 
 INSIDE THE NUMBERS
26 - Total assists by the Lady Patriots.
73 - Total digs as a team.
21 - Combined kills for Brooke Clark, Emma Eakin, and Hannah Tawney.

UP NEXT
DBU will compete on the road this Saturday against Newman at noon in Wichita, KS.