THE RUNDOWN
The 2024 DBU Volleyball season ended Saturday night at the hands of the No. 7 ranked Angelo State Rambelles. For the second consecutive year, the Lady Patriots' season came to an end in the semi-final round of the South Central Regional in the NCAA Tournament. Seven Lady Patriots played in the final match of their collegiate career tonight, bookending seven unique athletic journeys.
Similarly to the last time these schools squared off, the first set of tonight's game was a lengthy, competitive frame that eventually slipped away from the Lady Patriots. Angelo State committed 9 total errors in the opening set, and DBU was able to capitalize off of those free points, leading to a 21-17 Lady Patriot lead in the first frame. The Rambelles would then rattle off an 8-2 run to close the set and take an early 1-0 lead.
DBU never held a lead in the entire second frame but never trailed by more than four. After entering the late stage of the second set trailing 19-20, the Lady Patriots allowed four kills and committed a service error before dropping the set 23-25. Karly Wells led everyone on the floor with 13 kills through the first two sets.
Wells, a Sophomore outside hitter, would wind up leading the team offensively this evening, finishing with 16 kills. Her total was enough to share the game-lead with Angelo State's Madi Parrish, while 2024 Lone Star Conference Player of the Year Delaney Fuller followed closely behind with 14 of her own. Setter Aryn Walton was feeding her outside weapons all game long as she assisted on 34 of DBU's 40 kills.
No. 7 (1-seed) Angelo State will square off against No. 3 (3-seed) MSU Denver for the South Central Regional Championship.
A YEAR IN REVIEW
- The Lady Patriots finished the 2024 campaign with a 20-10 record, making their third consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance.
- Delaney Fuller once again broke the program record for kills in a single season with 508, outdoing her previous record of494.
- Outside hitters Fuller and Wells combined for 885 kills this season, accounting for 60% of DBU's 1,482 kills.
- Middles Shaylee Shore and Lindsey Otero combined to post 317 kills and 209 total blocks (25 solo, 174 assisted).
- Aryn Walton eclipsed 2,000 career assists this year, and dished out 1,154 assists in 2024 alone. Walton also recorded 58 kills and 58 total blocks from the setter position.
- Libero Daylee Doggett set a career-high mark of 532 digs this season. Doggett eclipsed 2,000 digs during the 2024 campaign.
- Defensive Specialists Jenna McMichael and Carmen Harless combined for 55 service aces and 300 digs.
- Price Reeves and Sadie Washburn combined for 199 kills.
- Thank you Seniors: Daylee Doggett, Delaney Fuller, Lindsey Otero, Price Reeves, Shaylee Shore, Aryn Walton, and Sadie Washburn!
