Senior libero Lily Hopkins receives the ball during a game against the University of Arkansas at Little Rock on Oct. 1 at College Park Center.
File photo / Treyson Abe
UTA volleyball (8-10) opened a four-game road trip this week, losing 3-1 to Abilene Christian University (12-6) Thursday, and beating the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (8-10) 3-1 Saturday.
Thursday’s loss was UTA’s third in a row against Abilene Christian, with the Wildcats taking wins in both matchups last season.
The first three sets Thursday each went past 25 points, with Abilene Christian taking the first and third 28-26, and UTA getting a 27-25 win in the second set. The Mavericks kept it close in the fourth set to try to force a fifth but fell 25-22.
In Abilene, senior outside hitter Evyn Snook led UTA in kills, making 24. Sophomore outside hitter Camryn McMinn led in digs, with 19, while junior setter Erica Dellesky had all but one of UTA’s 57 assists.
After a day to recover, the Mavericks headed to Little Rock on Saturday and ended a three-game losing streak that dated back to the two schools’ last match against each other Oct. 1.
The Trojans took the first set 25-19 before the Mavericks won a hard-fought second set 27-25. None of the remaining sets exceeded 25 points, nor did they end in Little Rock wins. UTA won the third set 25-23 and the fourth set 25-19 to seize victory.
McMinn led the Mavericks in kills, with 15, senior libero Samantha Glenn led in digs, making 17, and Dellesky dominated assists again, with 39. The team had 10 aces, tied for their second-most so far this year.
The Mavericks’ absence from home will continue this week, as UTA faces the University of North Alabama at 6 p.m. Thursday at CB&S Bank Arena in Florence, Alabama, and the University of West Georgia at 10 a.m. Saturday at The Coliseum in Carrollton, Georgia.
North Alabama is ranked second in the United Athletic Conference, while West Georgia is last.
North Alabama will enter Thursday reeling from a road loss against Eastern Kentucky University. Meanwhile, when UTA and West Georgia faced off on Sept. 24, UTA took a five-set victory.
@TyRoland06