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LAREDO, Texas – In search of their first win inside the Texas A&M International Kinesiology and Convocation Building this year, the Dustdevils stared down defeat through five sets against the University of Texas of the Permian Basin on Saturday. TAMIU dropped to 0-6 at home in the 3-2 (21-25 25-12, 25-27, 25-16, 15-10) and to 2-17 overall (1-10 Heartland Conference).
The match stood as the Dustdevils’ first to go beyond four sets this season, with more than half of the campaign’s fixtures ending in a sweep (10-19 matches). Both of the Dustdevils’ wins have come via the sweep, with victories over Oklahoma Panhandle State in the Heartland and a non-conference win over Texas A&M-Kingsville.
The staring contest between Saturday’s Heartland foes was one of constant adjustments and momentum-cruising waves.
The opening set saw the Dustdevils stroll to a lead that wasn’t tied until the score stood at 18-all. TAMIU led by as much as seven, at 14-7, before the Falcons found points in a rush. Although the Falcons flew into the score-tying play, they saw the Dustdevils roll off five consecutive points on plays initiated by Alex Ciszek’s serves.
Ciszek finished the match with 14 points off with 12 kills, two service aces and six digs.
UTPB countered TAMIU’s first-set aggression, steam rolling the home team with three straight points to open the second set. TAMIU quickly fell into a 6-1 hole, and even further, into a 13-2 deficit before finally pushing out 12 points to see the set end at 25-12.
The fourth saw the teams measure each other through a 14-13 score line in favor of the visitors. The score was knotted seven times through that point, but UTPB again pulled ahead with a conclusion that saw the Dustdevils commit five errors (4 attack errors, 1 service error).
The deciding game lived up to the match’s level of drama, seeing the score evened as late as 7-7, but the teams’ switching of sides on the court appeared to have unseated the Dustdevils – who then stumbled on UTPB’s 8-3 scoring run.
The match saw 26 game-tying plays and 14 lead changes, half of which coming in the third set (7).
Paige Criss powered the TAMIU assault with 14.5 points off 13 kills and three blocks, while Toriana Goods punched 11.5 points with nine kills, two aces and a block.
Lizzie Prieto continued flourishing with her team-leading 43 of the Dustdevils’ total 49 assists. The sophomore from Laredo also contributed four kills and two blocks for five points.
Team captain Miranda Pratt scored seven points and Samantha Gonzalez threw down eight points – all coming off kills.
Three Dustdevils contributed double-digit defensive statistics, as Desiree Ortiz dug out 35 of the team’s 91 total digs. Goods shoveled 12 and Koral Wright pulled 11 digs off UTPB’s attacks.
The Dustdevils return to action with a pair of Heartland road matches at McMurry (Oct. 24, 7 p.m.) and St. Edward’s (Oct. 26, noon). TAMIU returns home on Oct. 29 to face TAMUK in a non-conference match at the TAMIU Kinesiology and Convocation Building at 7 p.m.
