THE RUNDOWN
 
The Lady Patriots (7-5) defeated Texas A&M International (2-12) 3-1 (25-19, 25-27, 25-21, 27-29, 15-12) in the finale of the Heartland Preseason Tournament Friday afternoon inside Advantage Sports Complex. Sophomore Brooke Clark had 16 kills while Senior Katie Nicholson had 16 of her own. Junior Kasey Holand posted 12 kills and three digs on the day while Senior Madeline Dolberry scored seven kills. Senior Merci Perry recorded a season-high 37 assists and 20 digs while Junior Strealy Sizelove added 13 assists of her own.

DBU battled with the Dustdevils early, trading points to 10 all. The Lady Patriots would widen their lead to as much as five, up 19-14 after a Brooke Clark service ace. A&M International would call a timeout down 23-19, but DBU would stay in control scoring the two final points on a pair of Katie Nicholson kills, winning the opening set 25-19.

In the second set, A&M International took an early lead up three before DBU surged back to tie the match up at 7-7. The two teams traded points to 12 before the Dustdevils called a timeout to regroup. After the break, DBU claimed the lead on kill from Kasey Holand putting DBU up one, 17-16. A&M International called their second timeout down 21-18, and went onto take the second set 27-25.

DBU controlled the third set early, but A&M International would not go quietly knotting the match up at 9-9. DBU controlled the lead throughout the rest of the set, going onto win 25-21.

In the fourth set, the Lady Patriots kept the pressure on A&M International going ahead 6-2 before the Dustdevils called a timeout. DBU controlled the middle of the set forcing the Dustdevils into their second timeout down 20-16. The Dustdevils battled back to take the set 29-27, forcing a fifth set.

DBU would control the fifth and final set, taking the set 15-12 to win the match.
 
KEY STORYLINES
 
- DBU won the hitting percentage battle .260 to .168.
- Brooke Clark and Katie Nicholson combined for 32 kills.
- The win marks the Lady Patriots 21st in school history against Texas A&M International.

KASEY HOLAND ON DBU'S PERFORMANCE
"I'm proud of us for fighting the whole game and not giving in," Holand said. "We didn't play to our full potential but we came out with a win and it's a game we can build on."
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
 
69 - Total kills by the Lady Patriots, a season high.
21 – Wins against Texas A&M International.
10 - Lady Patriots registered at least one point in the match.
 
UP NEXT
DBU will compete Saturday, September 15th in Denton, Texas, at 10:00 a.m. against Texas Women's University and 12:00 p.m. against Oklahoma Baptist, respectively.