Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
TYLER, Texas – Texas-Tyler wasn’t about to be caught looking ahead to a Saturday’s showdown with ninth-ranked West Texas A&M for the Lone Star Conference volleyball lead.
Tyler took control from the get-go and never let up in a 25-13, 25-11, 25-18 sweep of Eastern New Mexico University on Friday night.
UTT (10-5, 7-0 LSC) converted 47 kills on 90 attacks in making short work of the struggling Greyhounds (3-15, 0-7).
Junior outside hitter Kota Hartman notched 14 kills and six digs and sophomore outside hitter Autumn Perry also had 14 kills for the Patriots. Hartman converted three early kills in Game 1 to help Tyler take a 5-2 lead, and the Patriots used a late 8-3 run that included kills from four players to all but close out the set.
Hartman had two more kills as Tyler led 6-0 early in the second game. ENMU closed the margin to 8-5, but Perry’s two kills sparked a 4-0 run and the Patriots pulled away.
In Game 3, the Hounds took their only lead of the night with the first point, but Hartman had a pair of kills to help Tyler lead 4-1. Down 11-4, the Hounds put together a 13-7 blitz to close to within a point, but Perry’s four kills keyed a match-ending 7-1 run.
Senior libero/defensive specialist Addison Evans added 13 digs for Tyler, while junior setter Saige Rivera notched 42 assists.
Senior outside hitter Darcy Dodd posted nine kills for ENMU, while freshman setter Cayla Reyes collected 10 assists.
ENMU played at 25th-ranked Dallas Baptist on Saturday. This weekend, the Hounds face St. Mary’s at 6 p.m. on Friday and St. Edward’s at 2 p.m. on Saturday at Steve Loy Family Foundation Arena.
