Volleyball Splits Opening Day
September 4, 2009

The University of Texas at Tyler volleyball team went 1-1 on the opening day of the 2009 season as it hosted the UT Tyler/Trinity Mother Frances Classic. The Patriots started the day by losing to Southern Nazarene, 25-18, 25-19, 25-24, but bounced back by beating St. Gregory’s, 25-21, 21-25, 25-17, 25-13, to close out the day.

In the first match, the Patriots kept pace with the Crimson Storm in all three games, but Southern Nazarene was able to win points down the stretch to pick up the 3-0 victory.

Sophomore Amanda Hanson (Spring, Texas) led the Patriots in the match with six kills and three blocks.

In game two, UT Tyler picked up its first win of the year by besting St. Gregory’s, 3-1. The Patriots and Cavaliers split the first two games of the match by identical scores of 25-21; however UT Tyler was able to shut St. Gregory’s down in the final two games to pick up the win and even its season record to 1-1.

Hanson once again led UT Tyler in kills in the match with 12, while sophomore Danika Waldrep (Arlington, Texas) followed closely with 11. Junior Kelsey Winn (Tyler, Texas) finished the match with the highest attack percentage of the match by picking up nine kills off of 14 attempts with no errors.

Hanson also led the Patriots in blocks with six, while freshman Hillary Taylor (Lewisville, Texas) led her team in digs with 20. Junior Whitney Clements (Flint, Texas) and senior Cristy Meredith (Amarillo, Texas) split time at the setter position and each finished with 19 assists.

UT Tyler will close out play in the UT Tyler/Trinity Mother Frances Classic on Saturday, Sept. 5, by taking on Southwestern Assemblies at 11 a.m. and Mid-America Christian at 5 p.m. at the Herrington Patriot Center.

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