THE RUNDOWN

The DBU Lady Patriots (4-4) concluded play at the Reddie-Tiger Challenge with a four-set loss to Henderson State (21-25, 21-25, 25-23, 21-25). Junior Emma Eakin led the Lady Patriots with 16 kills. Junior Strealy Sizelove registered 17 assists and seven digs while senior Merci Perry added a team-high 30 assists of her own. Senior Gabby Grindele posted 15 digs, while sophomore Brooke Clark added 13 kills and 10 digs.

After taking an early lead, Henderson State rallied to take the lead to control the rest of the set. The two teams then traded points to get to 17-19 in favor of the Reddies, but it wasn't enough as Henderson State pulled away to a 25-21 set one decision.

Down early in the second set, DBU went on a 5-2 run to tie the match up at eight all. However, the Reddies rallied with a 4-2 surge, highlighted by a pair of kills from sophomore Tyasia McGruder. Henderson State maintained the advantage to go onto a 25-21 set two victory.

With the third set knotted up at 15, DBU used a 6-3 run to take a 21-18 lead. The Lady Patriots controlled the remainder of the game despite a HSU effort coming within one point down 24-23. A Brooke Clark kill scored the final point to win 25-23 taking the set.
 
The Lady Patriots attempted to extend the match to a winner take all fifth set. Tied at 15, DBU traded points with HSU to remain tied at 18, led by a couple of kills from Katie Nicholson and Merci Perry. DBU went down 20-22 before calling a timeout looking to regroup. After the break, the Reddies scored three of the last our points defeating DBU 25-21.
 
KEY STORYLINES
- Strealy Sizelove contributed double-digit assists in seven consecutive matches this season.
- Brooke Clark posted her season-high kills with 13.
- Emma Eakin and Brooke Clark combined for 29 kills.

CATHY KOKEL ON DBU'S WEEKEND
"We have work to do. We are not executing consistently. Our game isn't bad but we are not coming out on top against stronger teams," Kokel said. "We have to build on our overall defense to compete."
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
60 - total kills in the match by the Lady Patriots, the highest all season.
87 - total digs as a team, the highest all season.
56 - assists for the Lady Patriots.
.333 – Hitting percentage from Cooper Martin.
8 - Lady Patriots registered at least one point in the match.
 
UP NEXT
DBU will head back to Dallas for their home opener against Southern Arkansas on Friday at 2:00 p.m.