Volleyball Downs UTPB for First Conference Win

Box Score ODESSA, Texas – TAMIU volleyball snapped a three game losing streak and picked up their first conference win Saturday afternoon, topping UT Permian Basin in four sets 27-25, 25-51, 19-25, and 25-18.

After struggling versus McMurry in their previous match, Andrea Marshall and Alex Ciszek each posted double-doubles versus the Falcons on Saturday. Marshall finished with a game-high 17 kills and 11 digs while Ciszek recorded 15 kills and 11 digs.

Senior setter Daria Winckler matched a season high with 41 assists, one more than UTPB’s combined total. Desiree Ortiz led TAMIU’s defensive effort finishing with a game-high 23 digs.

After falling behind in the opening set 7-10, the Dustdevils rattled off eight straight points to grab a 15-10 lead. Undeterred the Falcons fought back, going on an 8-1 run to reclaim the lead 16-18. Down 20-22 TAMIU showed they can perform under pressure, using a 3-1 run to tie the game at 23. The Dustdevils went on to win four of the next six points to take game one 27-25.

Set number two was a back and forth affair with UTPB jumping out to a 5-0 lead, only to have TAMIU tie the set after 5-0 run of their own. The Falcons fired back scoring seven of the next eight points, but the Dustdevils answered with an 8-2 run to even the set at 14. Trailing 18-19 TAMIU scored three of the next four points, before closing the game on a 4-1 run to take the second set 25-21.

After struggling to a 19-25 loss in the third set, the Dustdevils came out all business in the fourth jumping out to an 11-4 lead. The Falcons were never able to trim the deficit to less than five and TAMIU sealed the match with a 25-18 win.

With the win the Dustdevils improve their conference record to 1-2 on the season and their overall record to 3-5. The Devils will look to make it two in a row when they travel to San Antonio on Tuesday, September 18 to battle St. Mary’s University. Game time is set for 7 p.m. at Bill Greehey Arena.

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