Junior middle blocker Hana Aiana attempts to hit the ball over the net during a game against Tarleton State University on Oct. 30 at College Park Center. Aiana had four digs.
Fans lined College Park Center with costumes as the women’s volleyball team took on Tarleton State University for their “Mavoween Night” game Thursday.
The last time the teams faced off, earlier this season in conference play, the Mavericks fell short in five sets. Mirroring the last match-up, Tarleton took this one as well in five sets, beating UTA 3-2.
Senior outside hitter Jalie Tritt hits the ball during a game against Tarleton State University on Oct. 30 at College Park Center. Tritt had 19 kills.
To start the game, Tarleton opened the scoring, and UTA trailed for most of the first set afterward, as the set only featured two ties and one lead change for UTA. Several adjustments gave the team a fighting chance at keeping it close, but Tarleton sealed the deal 25-17.
A 3-0 start for the Mavericks in the second set with kills that tightroped in bounds forced the Texans to rally and take a timeout. Tarleton gained momentum and went on a 6-0 run to make UTA rebut with its own timeout. Tarleton continued to build on its run, giving them an 11-3 lead.
Junior libero Samantha Glenn screams after scoring a point during a game against Tarleton State University on Oct. 30 at College Park Center. Glenn had 19 digs.
Freshman outside hitter Camryn McMinn secured a kill to end the run off an assist from freshman outside hitter Andrea Nunez. McMinn’s kill shifted the momentum in the Mavericks’ favor and allowed them to eventually take the lead and secure set two 25-19.
McMinn, who contributed eight kills, said a single play can be vital in creating an opportunity for the team to change the energy in games, allowing players to perform better.
Set three was close, featuring 17 ties throughout. This was the most aggressive both teams got, as Tarleton and UTA peaked in kills at 16 and 17, respectively. UTA fought from behind for most of the set, losing after back-to-back kills from Tarleton junior outside hitters LaNeah Lara and Madison Rice-Locket.
Junior setter Mira Ledermueller sets the ball during a game against Tarleton State University on Oct. 30 at College Park Center. Ledermueller had 47 assists.
Lara recorded 25 total kills for Tarleton, six more than UTA’s primary attacker, senior outside hitter Jalie Tritt.
In the fourth set, two consecutive kills from Tritt allowed the Mavericks to build a 16-11 lead, forcing a Texan timeout. Three kills soon after from Lara led to a 5-2 run, bringing Tarleton within two. However, UTA wouldn’t let up, and another kill from Tritt closed out the set 25-21, evening the score at two.
Set five was filled with slipups for both sides, with the error-to-kill ratio even at 12. Tied at six, Tarleton went on a 9-3 run that didn’t give UTA the chance to come back. UTA was closed out 15-9, handing the Mavericks their second 3-2 loss to the Texans of the season.
UTA volleyball players Mav Up before returning to a game against Tarleton State University on Oct. 30 at College Park Center. UTA lost 3-2.
Junior libero Samantha Glenn, UTA’s dig leader with 19 on the board, said the team needs to bring intensity every night and work on reducing errors as games near the end.
“We have to replicate a tight set and just keep pushing instead of letting down and letting them walk all over us,” Glenn said.
Looking ahead, the Mavericks will travel to Abilene, Texas, to take on Abilene Christian University at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Moody Coliseum.
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