ODESSA, Texas – University of Arkansas – Fort Smith Volleyball snapped its two-match losing streak with a four-set, 22-25, 25-18, 25-23, 25-22 win at UT Permian Basin Saturday.
The win marked the Lions’ first 20-win season since 2019 and the 22nd overall.
After seeing a five-point lead slip away in set one, the Lions started set two up 7-1. The lead grew to as many as 10 before the Falcons clawed their way back into the set with a 6-0 run. The Lions responded with a 5-1 run with a pair of kills from both Reagan Macha and Caelyn Gunn and eventually evened the match.
Gunn tied with Nyia Anderson for a team-high 16 kills while hitting .389 for the match.
The teams traded runs to start set three before the Falcons grabbed a 15-12 lead. UAFS then used a 7-1 burst to take a three-point lead and held off a late UTPB rally for a 2-1 lead.
A late 4-0 run in set four gave UAFS a 21-18 lead, however the Falcons scored three straight to tie the set at 21-21. Anderson then tallied the Lions next three points via kill as the Lions scored four of the final five points to win the match.
Hannah Watkins added to the Lions’ offensive attack with 11 kills on a .455 attack percentage while setter Chloe Price dished out 48 assists.
Gunn, Anderson and Price all had double doubles by tallying 15, 14 and 10 digs respectively. Libero Lauren Weber made her first start of the season and recorded 17 digs while defensive specialist Taylor Lintz had eight.
UAFS had a block party at the net, recording its second most blocks in a match this season with 14. Watkins had four solo blocks and five assisted blocks while both Anderson and Brianna Ball each had four total blocks.
The Lions had a .239 attack percentage for the match to a .159 percentage for the Falcons.
UAFS returns home for the final weekend of the regular season November 10-11 to host Midwestern State and Texas Woman’s.
