THE RUNDOWN
The Lady Patriots (1-1) bounced back in their second game of the Washburn Invitational with a 3-1 win over UC Colorado Springs on Friday afternoon inside Lee Arena. Senior Kasey Holand led the Lady Patriots with 12 kills and two aces. Junior Strealy Sizelove dished 31 assists while senior Merci Perry added 15 of her own. Sizelove and seniors Lauren Nicks and Gabby Grindele combined for 48 digs on the afternoon.

The Mountain Lions scored the first point of the match, but it would be short-lived as the Lady Patriots controlled the rest of the set without trailing. DBU controlled the pace early and often finding themselves up 21-15 forcing UCCS into a timeout. After the short break, DBU kept their foot on the gas taking the next four points, ending the set on an 8-0 run sealing a 25-15 win.

DBU jumped out to a quick 7-3 lead in the second set, but the Mountain Lions would not go quietly, knotting the match up at 15 all. Juniors Emma Eakin and Strealy Sizelove added a pair of points to give DBU a 22-21 lead into a UCCS timeout. The Lady Patriots led by two points before kills by sophomore Brooke Clark and junior Emma Eakin widened the lead. The Mountain Lions came within one at 24-23, but an attack error put the Lady Patriots on top again to close out the set with a 25-23 win.

In the third set, DBU fell behind early until a 22-14 deficit sparked a six point comeback that had the Lady Patriots down 22-20 going into a Mountain Lion timeout. Out of the timeout, UCCS survived after pulling away taking a 25-22 set win.

Up 2-1, DBU looked to finish the match in the fourth set. Ahead by one at 8-7, the Lady Patriots went on an 11-1 run making the score 20-9. The Lady Patriots closed the match on a 5-3 run winning the fourth set 25-12.

KEY STORYLINES
- DBU won the hitting percentage battle .214 to .080
- DBU recorded 80 digs to 62 for UCCS.
- The win marks the Lady Patriots first of the season.
- The Lady Patriots doubled the Mountain Lions in blocks 8-4.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
48 - total assists by the Lady Patriots.
18 - digs in the match by junior Strealy Sizelove.
11 - combined total blocks for Katie Nicholson, Lexie Houston and Brooke Clark.
9 - Lady Patriots registered at least one point in the match for the second consecutive match.
15 - assists for senior Merci Perry.

UP NEXT

DBU will continue play in the Washburn Invitational on Saturday, Aug. 25 at 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. against William Jewell and Northwest Missouri State, respectively.