THE RUNDOWN
DBU (22-4, 15-2 LSC) defeated UT Tyler (22-5, 13-4 LSC) on Senior Day, as the Patriots secured a new program-best regular-season record, surpassing the 2022 squad.
Karly Wells led the kill column with a historic 18-kill performance, becoming the program's all-time leader in career points with her eighth kill of the match. For the second consecutive game, six different DBU attackers recorded at least five kills as setters
Paityn Winters and
Zoe Gun distributed the offense all over the court.
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After dropping the opening rally of the game, the DBU Patriots won the next four and didn't look back. DBU controlled the scoreboard for the rest of the set, taking a 1-0 lead as
Karly Wells' seventh kill of the game fell to the ground.
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UT Tyler responded early in the second frame, jumping out to a 3-0 lead. DBU rebounded with a pair of blocks and an ace to tie the game, igniting a stretch of back-and-forth scoring. However, once UT Tyler gained a 12-11 advantage, they would hold onto that lead en route to an equalizing set two win.
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DBU got out to a 4-1 lead at the beginning of set three, a frame that saw
Claire Conner make a difference in both the front and back row. Conner logged a team-leading 6.5 points in the third frame, notching four kills, two aces, and a block assist. The Patriots stifled the UT Tyler attack, recording five blocks on their way to a 25-21 set victory.
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With victory in their sights, set four was DBU's most dominant frame of the day: The home team posted a game-high .393 hitting percentage in the fourth set, and held UT Tyler to their lowest mark of the day (.167). Conner put a bow on the contest with her seventh kill of the night, cementing DBU's position as the number two seed in the Lone Star Conference Tournament next weekend.
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THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
- The 2026 DBU Volleyball team officially has the best regular-season record in program history.
- Both
Paityn Winters and
Zoe Gun logged double-doubles today.
- 14 blocks is a new season-high mark for the Patriots.
Aizlyn Dewberry led the way with eight.
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INSIDE THE NUMBERS
1533.5 -
Karly Wells' program-leading career point total.
11 - For the fifth time this season, DBU recorded double-digit aces.
18 - The Patriots had won 18 consecutive sets before dropping the second set Saturday.
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UP NEXT
The Patriots (2) will take on UT Dallas (7) in the first round of the Lone Star Conference Tournament next weekend in San Angelo.
