Patriots Drop Volleyball Match to Undefeated Austin College
September 25, 2004
Tyler Morning Telegraph

It may have been a three-game sweep for Austin College, but UT Tyler volleyball team made things interesting Saturday at the Herrington Patriot Center.

The Kangaroos stayed unbeaten with 30-28, 30-27 and 30-22 American Southwest Conference win.

Austin College is tied for the best won-loss record in NCAA Division III and leads the American Southwest Conference in every statistical category except for blocks. UT Tyler leads the league with 3.48 blocks per game.

"I believe, and the girls believe, that no team is unbeatable," said Patriot head coach Rachel Short. "But you have to finish it and we didn't do that tonight."

The Patriots kept up with the Kangaroos the first two games and even led the majority of game two before Austin College held a comfortable lead throughout game three.

Patriots Kala Lanningham, Jessica Lightfoot and Amanda Gadison had eight kills each while Kelly Roberts added 35 assists. Lightfoot and Gadison each added 10 digs for UT Tyler. Robert E. Lee graduate Jerushah DuToit had a good all-round performance with six kills and four blocks and Tami Trail chipped in with 19 digs, seven kills and two blocks.

Carol Nwelue and Diana Gonzalez paced the Kangaroos with 15 and 13 kills, respectively. Veronica Stephens and Becca Harpham added 11 digs each for the Austin College defense.

The Patriots hit the road for two ASC games, Sept. 30 against East Texas Baptist in Marshall and Oct. 1 against Austin College in Sherman.before returning home Oct. 2, when they host Mississippi College.

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