MATCH ONE
 
The Lady Patriots (5-5) fell in their first game of the Heartland Preseason Tournament with a 3-0 loss to Lubbock Christian on Friday afternoon inside the Burg Center. Sophomore Brooke Clark led DBU with six kills and three blocks. Junior Emma Eakin posted six kills of her own, while Junior Strealy Sizelove dished out 12 assists. Senior Merci Perry added 11 assists of her own, while Senior Gabby Grindele registered 21 digs.

DBU and Lubbock Christian traded points until the Chaps surged to a 15-10 lead forcing a DBU timeout. LCU and Lauren Zoller, who had seven kills, kept the Lady Patriots at bay for the rest of the set, winning 25-16.

In the second set, DBU fell behind early until a three-point deficit sparked a comeback that had the Lady Patriots up 11-8. Trading points once again, LCU regained the lead up 20-17 heading into a Lady Patriot timeout. DBU tied the score at 20 all, but could not reclaim the lead as LCU went on to win set two 25-20.

Down 2-0, DBU looked to extend the match in the third set. Down by three, DBU called a timeout. DBU then surged out to a 5-1 run making the score 14 all, forcing LCU into a timeout. After the break, the Chaps held off DBU for the rest of the match, winning the third and final set 25-18.


MATCH TWO
DBU (6-5) continued play in the Heartland Preseason Tournament with a 3-1 win against St. Mary's on Friday evening inside the Burg Center. Sophomore Brooke Clark led DBU again with14 kills and 10 blocks. Senior Katie Nicholson recorded 10 kills and three blocks, while Junior Strealy Sizelove posted 15 assists. Senior Merci Perry added a team-high 17 assists of her own, while Sophomore Alyssa Pevehouse had a breakout performance with 19 digs.

DBU fell behind early but would battle back and trade points with the Rattlers, knotting the match up at 22 all. The two teams went back and forth before an Emma Eakin block would tie the match up at 24 all. St. Mary's would go onto to score the two points needed for the opening set win, 27-25.

In the second set, the Lady Patriots jumped out to an early 7-1 lead forcing St. Mary's into an early timeout. DBU controlled throughout the set and cruised to a 25-13 win.

In the third set, the Lady Patriots fell behind 5-0 before calling a timeout. After the break, the two teams traded points until the match was all square at 16. DBU broke the tie and controlled the remainder of the set winning the third set, 25-18.

DBU took command from the beginning leading throughout the fourth and final set. A stellar front row performance from Emma Eakin and Katie Nicholson propelled the Lady Patriots to a 25-20 victory over St. Mary's.
 
KEY STORYLINES
 
- DBU posted season highs in assists, kills, and total points scored in a day.
- DBU recorded 48 kills against St. Mary's.
- The win against St. Mary's is the programs 20th all-time.
- The Lady Patriots won their third three set match of the season.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
43 - Total assists by the Lady Patriots, opposed to St. Mary's 41.
90 - Total digs as a team in match two.
17 - Combined kills in match one for Emma Eakin, Brooke Clark, and Madeline Dolberry.
20 – The amount of wins against St. Mary's all-time.
19 - Digs for sophomore Alyssa Pevehouse, a season-high.

UP NEXT
DBU will continue play in the Heartland Preseason Tournament on Friday, Sept. 14 at 2:00 p.m. against Texas A&M International at Advantage Sports Complex.