DURANT, Oklahoma (September 1, 2017) - The Texas A&M International University Women's Volleyball program kicked off the 2017 season at the South Central Classic hosted by Southeastern Oklahoma State on Friday. TAMIU fell to Ouachita Baptist 0-3 in the noon matchup before falling 0-3 to Southern Nazarene Friday evening. 


MATCH 1: TAMIU 0 - OBU 3
The Dustdevils would fall to Ouachita Baptist 21-25, 22-25, 18-25 in their first matchup of the 2017 season.

TAMIU led the first set early, taking a 4-3 advantage before OBU went on a nine-point run that pushed the match in favor of the Tigers 12-4. TAMIU would be unable to close the gap throughout the remainder of the set before OBU put the final point on the board up 24-21. 

Set two saw OBU take the early lead before TAMIU put up five straight points to cut the deficit to four (18-22). Another three-point run brought TAMIU within two before the Tigers recorded the set point. 

Despite leading 7-3 in the third set, TAMIU fell victim to two straight runs by the Tigers. A four and five-point run allowed OBU to take the third set 25-18. 

MATCH 1 LEADERS:
KILLS: (10) Panebi Shirey
ACES: (1) Yuliia Hupkovska, Alejandra Bustamante, Lacy Asdourian
BLOCKS: (3) Gabrielle Zamora
ASSISTS: (29) Ronnie Fountain
DIGS: (14) Yuliia Hupkovska

MATCH 2: TAMIU 0 - SNU 3
TAMIU was defeated 19-25, 14-25, 14-25 in their second match of the day against Southern Nazarene University. 

SNU pulled ahead in the middle of set one, taking a 12-6 lead. TAMIU would bring the set within three after scoring three straight points on the Storm. An 11-point run from SNU would push the lead to 11 before TAMIU put up six straight, bringing the set within five points late. 

The Dustdevils used a six-point run in the second set to go up 8-5 against the Storm in the second set. SNU would respond with a six-point run of their own to pull ahead 11-8. The Dustdevils brought the set even at 13 before the Storm scored nine straight points to take the second set 25-14. 

Two runs in set three accounted for nine straight points for SNU in the third set. The Dustdevils would bring the set within seven points before SNU would take the final set 25-14. 

MATCH 2 LEADERS:
KILLS: (6) Yuliia Hupkovska
ACES: (2) Leah McManus
BLOCKS: (4) Panebi Shirey
ASSISTS: (19) Ronnie Fountain
DIGS: (7) Lacy Asdourian

COACH JANGADA'S THOUGHTS:
Head Coach Susie Jangada commented on the first matches of the season, "We are playing good, experienced teams and it is our first opportunity to play this level of volleyball this season. Even though we lost both matches, our girls are working really hard and we have seen a lot of growth. When you have a brand new team, it will take a little time for all of the pieces to come together. I'm really excited for the future of Dustdevil Volleyball."
UP NEXT:
The Dustdevils close out play in the South Central Classic on Saturday with two matches. TAMIU will take on Southern Arkansas at 10 a.m. before facing host, Southern Oklahoma at 12 p.m. 

STAY TUNED:
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