It was the third meeting between the Sul Ross State volleyball team and NAIA opponent University of the Southwest.
Both teams were scheduled to meet on Tuesday, Oct. 17 in Alpine, Texas, but the Mustangs couldn't make it down.
So, the contest was rescheduled.
The Lobos came away with the four-set victory, 23-25, 25-21, 25-21, 25-20, on Thursday night at the Pete P. Gallego Center.
>> HOW IT HAPPENED:
The Mustangs were in control early in the first set, leading by five points before the Lobos tied things up at 16-all.
Down the stretch, the set was tied six more times before University of the Southwest got the final two points to squeeze out the win.
The Mustangs continued their momentum in the second set, taking a 12-7 lead.
Using a 3-0 run that featured a kill by
Cassandra Espinoza and a service ace from
Brylee Sweeten, the Lobos tied things up at 18-all.
The Lobos then began to pull away when they went on a 4-0 run to take a 22-19 lead. Espinoza had two kills during the run.
University of the Southwest cut the deficit to two late in the set, but Sul Ross State prevailed this time as
Loren Garcia slammed down the final point to even up the match.
There were 11 different lead changes in the third set.
University of the Southwest led 16-12 in the middle of the set before the Lobos went on a 3-0 run to cut the deficit to one.
Loren Garcia tallied all three points by notching three kills.
The score was tied three times down the stretch. The Lobos went on a 4-0 run to pull away with the win as
Sarah Chavez had two kills during the offensive spree.
Sul Ross State found itself in a hole to start the fourth set.
After four lead changes, the Lobos began to take control of the set by taking a 12-9 lead.
The lead grew to six before the Mustangs used a 4-0 run to trail by two.
Espinoza put the finishing touches on the match when she tallied the final point to give the Lobos the win.
>> RECORDS: Sul Ross State (8-14); University of the Southwest (4-22)
>> GAME NOTES:
- Loren Garcia led the way with 18 kills, three service aces and seven digs.
- Espinoza finished with a double-double with 13 kills and 12 digs.
- Chavez added with 12 kills.
- Tatyana Colon had 27 digs and five assists.
- Eliana Mata had a double-double with 37 assists and 10 digs.
- Sweeten finished with seven assists, three service aces and 13 digs.
>> UP NEXT: The Lobos travel to East Texas Baptist on Saturday, Oct. 28 at 11 a.m. CST.
