Senior libero Samantha Glenn digs the ball against the University of West Georgia on Sept. 24 at College Park Center. Glenn recorded five assists.
The UTA volleyball team (7-7) played the university’s first home United Athletic Conference game Thursday, beating the University of West Georgia (4-9) in five sets at College Park Center.
The Mavericks entered the matchup reeling from a 3-1 loss to Tarleton State University in their first conference game. For West Georgia, Thursday was its first UAC game, after ending nonconference play with two losses in a row against the University of Tennessee at Martin.
“We’ve had so many injuries, so it’s nice to win and for them to feel that success that we need to feel more of it this season,” head coach Tania Schatow said.
The newfound conference foes had faced off just once before, when UTA took a 2-0 win in pool play of the 1974 Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women tournament in Portland, Oregon. The AIAW was a version of the NCAA in the 70s and 80s that ran women’s collegiate athletics.
Sophomore outside hitter Camryn McMinn links hands with teammates on Sept. 24 at College Park Center. UTA put up 64 kills during the game.
The game opened with a close first set, as the two teams were neck-and-neck, with the teams tying 11 times. West Georgia made two kills in a row to take a 24-23 lead, and a UTA attack error sealed the opening set win for West Georgia.
The lack of scoring runs continued in the second set, with the teams being tied 13 more times. UTA thought it had won the set 25-21, but West Georgia challenged the call and won, keeping the teams on the floor. It was no matter, as sophomore outside hitter Camryn McMinn made the kill for the Mavericks to even the game 1-1.
“We work really hard, and I think that it just shows the grit and heart that this team has,” Schatow said. “We know we got to clean things up so that we can finish sooner because we have the possibility to.”
The Wolves led for most of the third set, until a 7-1 Maverick run flipped the deficit. West Georgia kept the score close, but another McMinn kill finished a 25-20 UTA set win, letting them take a 2-1 lead.
Including the two set-winners, McMinn had 16 kills on 45 attacks, placing second on the team in both.
Junior defensive specialist Isabella Camacho attempts to spike the ball against the University of West Georgia on Sept. 24 at College Park Center. Camacho had six digs.
“I’ve been struggling a little bit with my confidence and stuff, so being able to come back and play how I did tonight, it’s a step in the right direction,” McMinn said.
The fourth set began differently, with UTA opening the frame with a 7-1 lead. West Georgia later fought back with a 6-1 run to tie the set at 16. The Mavericks forced the set past 25 points, but failed to two kills and an attack error. West Georgia won the set 26-24, and sent the game to a fifth set.
Neither team was able to get anything more than a two-point lead for most of the tiebreaker set until UTA went on a 5-0 run to force a match point. A kill by sophomore outside hitter Mazi Smith brought a 15-11 set win and a 3-2 victory.
The UTA volleyball team celebrates their win against the University of West Georgia on Sept. 24 at College Park Center. UTA took the victory in five sets.
Senior libero Samantha Glenn led the team in digs, making 23. Senior outside hitter Evyn Snook led the team in kills, with 19.
“It started off a little rocky, but once we found the groove, it was just next-ball mentality,” Snook said.
The Mavericks stay in Arlington next week, when they take on the University of Arkansas at Little Rock at 6 p.m. Thursday at College Park Center.
“We’re going to keep working on our offense, and we got to get a bit more efficient,” Schatow said. “I know that we can be with a few different new players in the lineup.”
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