THE RUNDOWN
The Lady Patriots (1-0) began the 2023 season with a sweep of Fort Lewis (0-1) at the Patriot Classic hosted by UT Tyler. The win marks the second season-opening win in Jordan Fish's three years at the helm.
 
DBU pulled out to a quick 3-0 lead in the first set courtesy of kills by Delaney Fuller and Shaylee Shore. The Skyhawks prevented the first set from escaping them, at one point taking advantage of three Lady Patriot errors and a Chailyn Swenson kill to go ahead, 14-12. Fort Lewis extended its advantage to 17-13, but DBU found a rhythm, finishing on a 12-2 run to take the first frame.
 
The Skyhawks controlled early in set two and led by four through the first 16 rallies. The Lady Patriots fought back over the next five points to tie the game at 11, with Price Reeves recording a pair of kills and a solo block. The score stayed practically knotted until DBU broke a 14-14 tie and won the set on another late surge, 25-17.
 
Two early assisted blocks by Shore and Reeves set the tone of the third set. Fort Lewis tied the game at two points apiece but trailed the rest of the way. Fuller smashed all five of her kills in the frame during a 9-2 stretch for her squad and even tacked on a solo block in the process. Down, 22-13, the Skyhawks mustered three more points before libero Daylee Doggett was credited with the game's final kill.
 
THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
- Redshirt freshman setter Lexi Lambert made her debut for DBU. Earning a starting spot, she dished out 23 assists without a ball handling error in addition to recording seven digs.
- Delaney Fuller tallied double-digit totals in both kills (12) and digs (10).
- The Lady Patriots logged seven aces in the match, their most since accumulating the same total in 2017.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
14 - Price Reeves had a career-high 14 kills.
26 - Reeves and Fuller combined for 26 of the Lady Patriots' 41 kills.
.500 - DBU hit a blistering .500 in the second set.
 
UP NEXT
The Lady Patriots are back in action on Friday afternoon with a 4:00 p.m. showdown against Union. Read Full Article