THE RUNDOWN

The 4-seed DBU Lady Patriots survive and advance into the South Central regional semi-finals following their victory over the No. 19 ranked (5-seed) Colorado Mesa Mavericks. Led offensively by Lone Star Conference Player of the Year Delaney Fuller, the Lady Patriots were able to put away the Mavericks in just three sets, marking their 12th sweep of the 2024 campaign (25-20, 25-23, 25-16). This is now the second consecutive year that DBU has ended Colorado Mesa's season in the first round of the South Central regional.

The first set of this afternoon's postseason affair featured two offenses that struggled to establish consistency, and that theme would continue on throughout the first two frames. In the first set, neither team could register a hitting percentage above .130, with the Lady Patriots leading the way with a .129 team-wide hitting percentage. Middle blocker Shaylee Shore would lead the group in consistency, converting on all three of her swings in a set where workhorse Delaney Fuller only saw 10 attack attempts. The Lady Patriots posted three aces in the first set while not surrendering a single service ace.

The second set unfolded similarly to the first, while DBU was able to slowly get their spark plug in Delaney Fuller rolling at her usual tempo. In the third frame, the Lady Patriots played their best set both offensively and defensively. DBU posted a .273 team-wide hitting percentage in the final frame while holding Colorado Mesa to a measly .026. Delaney Fuller was able to pull away for the team lead in kills, with 15. With her final kill this afternoon, Fuller tied her own program record for kills in a single season (494). Further etching her name over this contest, Fuller also led the Lady Patriots in digs with 17, giving her a double-double.

Libero Daylee Doggett recorded 15 digs tonight and was one of four Lady Patriots who posted two service aces. Middles Lindsey Otero and Shaylee Shore would combine for five total blocks and ten total kills. Setter Aryn Walton assisted on 23 of DBU's 33 kills this afternoon. The Lady Patriots await the winner of the last quarterfinal matchup between No. 7 ranked (1-seed) Angelo State and 8-seed Colorado Christian, for a date in the semi-finals tomorrow night. 

THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

- Delaney Fuller only saw ten attack attempts in the first set, she averaged 16.5 in the second and third.

- Every game in the South Central Regional so far has been won via a sweep.

- No. 8 ranked (2-seed) WTAMU will do battle with No. 3 ranked (3-seed) MSU Denver in the other semi-final matchup tomorrow afternoon.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

-7 - DBU's total error differential against Colorado mesa (25-32).

+.247 - DBU's hitting percentage differential in the third and final set (.273 - .026).

+6 - The Lady Patriots posted six more service aces than the Mavericks (9-3).

POSTGAME INTERVIEW

UP NEXT

The Lady Patriots survive and advance to tomorrow night, where they will face the winner of No. 7 ranked (1-seed) Angelo State and 8-seed Colorado Christian at 7 pm.