THE RUNDOWN
Despite dropping the first two sets of their match on Saturday afternoon, DBU won three straight to defeat Texas A&M International in their last game of the Lone Star Conference Tournament Preview in Canyon, Texas. A team effort, seven Lady Patriots recorded multiple kills in the win.
 
After a nearly even start to the match, a two-point deficit for DBU (7-4) turned seven when TAMIU (7-4) went on a 5-0 run for an 18-11 advantage. Head Coach Jordan Fish called a timeout, sparking a 7-2 stretch for the Lady Patriots. However, the charge was insufficient, and the Dustdevils took the first frame.
 
TAMIU rallied early in the second set, but the Lady Patriots kept the margin close, 10-9. The Dustdevils grew their lead to four, but DBU fought back, nearly leveling the score, 19-18. The Lady Patriots did not trail by more than three in the closing stages of the frame, but TAMIU snuck away with it.
 
Chasing a 0-2 set count, DBU sprinted to an 8-2 edge to open set three. The Dustdevils slowed the roll of their opponent for a moment, but the Lady Patriots finished the frame on a 10-4 run to keep their hopes alive.
 
The momentum stayed in favor of the navy and red in the fourth. The first six rallies went to DBU, and an 8-1 stretch a few moments later forced a TAMIU timeout with the score at 15-5. The break would only delay the inevitable, as Aryn Walton closed the set tallying three of the last four points via the service ace.
 
The Lady Patriots kept the pedal to the metal in the deciding fifth. A 7-3 start for DBU was stopped by a Dustdevil timeout. TAMIU started to climb back into the game, forcing two extra match points, but Karly Wells sealed the deal with a final kill to complete the comeback for DBU.
 
THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
- Price Reeves tied her career high of 15 kills in the match, leading DBU in kills for the first time since the season opener.
- After hitting below .100 in the first two sets, the Lady Patriots hit .313 over the last three.
- DBU held the Dustdevils to a sub-.150 hitting percentage in all five sets.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
-.138 - DBU held TAMIU to a .138 hitting percentage in the fourth set, the Lady Patriots' best defensive set of the season.
7 - Lindsey Otero accumulated a career-high 7 blocks.
15 - DBU dotted a season-high 15 aces.

HEAD COACH JORDAN FISH ON THE WEEKEND
"This was a tough week of competition, and I am extremely proud of how we battled as a total team. We are excited to be at home next week in front of our DBU Family!"
 
UP NEXT
The Lady Patriots make their 2023 home debut against No. 2 West Texas A&M on Friday, September 22. They will play at 6:00 p.m. in The Burg Center. Read Full Article