Sophomore outside hitter Mazi Smith spikes the ball during a game against Eastern Kentucky University on Oct. 3 at College Park Center. Smith recorded three kills.
UTA volleyball (7-9) got swept 3-0 by Eastern Kentucky University (14-2), the top team in the United Athletic Conference, on Saturday at College Park Center.
Saturday was just the fourth time the schools have faced off, with the last time being in 1995. None of the previous three games were in Arlington.
The Mavericks came into the matchup just two days after getting swept by the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, while the Colonels entered Arlington as the UAC’s only team undefeated in conference play and left on a nine-game win streak.
“We worked really hard in practice yesterday, just being more aggressive and trying to find the ball instead of the ball finding us,” UTA head coach Tania Schatow said. “I was really happy with our defensive effort, and obviously, still things we need to work on, but it was a step in the right direction.”
Freshman middle blocker Dixie Nessl high-fives her teammates before a game against Eastern Kentucky University on Oct. 3 at College Park Center. Nessl recorded five kills.
A quarter of the way through the team’s conference schedule, UTA now ranks eighth in the nine-team conference, with a 1-3 record.
Eastern Kentucky opened the first set with a 5-1 lead and never looked back. UTA tried to keep the set close, but a 6-1 Colonel run dashed those hopes.
UTA could not put points in a row, not getting consecutive scores until the score was already 19-12. The Mavericks fought to keep the set going but lost it 25-18.
Junior setter Erica Dellesky sets the ball during a game against Eastern Kentucky University on Oct. 3 at College Park Center. Dellesky recorded 35 assists.
Sophomore outside hitter Emilee Sikora made her fourth start of the year Saturday and backed up the decision by leading the team in kills, with 13 on 40 attack attempts.
“We just had a ‘go get it’ mindset,” Sikora said. “Even though we were down, our energy and our effort and our trust in each other was there throughout the whole set.”
UTA got the first point of the second set, but Eastern Kentucky once again forced an early deficit, going up 4-1. The Mavericks didn’t falter so quickly, though, eventually tying and then taking the lead.
The UTA volleyball team celebrates after scoring a point during a game against Eastern Kentucky University on Oct. 3 at College Park Center. The team lost in three sets.
The teams were synchronized, tying the set for nine points in a row. The Colonels broke the final tie in a 5-1 run and kept the lead for the rest of the set, winning 25-22.
Senior libero Samantha Glenn led the team in digs, making 22. She said the team’s performance, despite a similar final score to Thursday, was all-around improved.
“On the court, the energy felt way different from Thursday,” Glenn said. “The effort was different, the communication, the celebration, so I know we lost, got swept, but we can take this energy and bring it to our next game.” [
With the game in sweep territory, the Colonels opened the third set trying to leave no doubt about the victor, starting with a 10-1 lead. Schatow called a timeout, and immediately afterward, the Mavericks put together a 6-1 run to make the deficit manageable.
“The message was to not look at the score and just chip away, because if you get too focused on the scoreboard, then it will kind of change how you play,” Schatow said. “We did that, so that was really encouraging to see from everybody.”
Senior libero Samantha Glenn dives for the ball during a game against Eastern Kentucky University on Oct. 3 at College Park Center. Glenn led the team with 22 digs.
Later in the set, up by just two, Eastern Kentucky went on a 6-1 run of its own to all but seal victory. UTA kept up the fight but fell in the third set 25-18.
UTA will continue its conference schedule by going on the road to face Abilene Christian University at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Moody Coliseum in Abilene, Texas. The United Athletic Conference third-place Wildcats will enter the matchup having won six of their last seven games.
“As we go into next week, it’s fine-tuning our offense,” Schatow said. “We got to put more balls away all across the front row. We can’t rely on just one hitter.”
The game in Abilene will be the first of a four-game road trip, as the Mavericks won’t play again in Arlington until they face Tarleton State University at 6 p.m. Oct. 20 at College Park Center.
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