Todd Ryals

Cats Fall to UT Tyler in First Home Match

9/15/2017 9:31:00 PM

By: LC Sports Information - Brad Welborn

Box Score

For the first time in the storied history of H.O. West Fieldhouse at Louisiana College hosted a collegiate volleyball match. It was the first of five home matches for the LC volleyball team during the 2017 season as they hosted the University of Texas at Tyler Patriots on Friday evening. Even with the magic that H.O. West is said to hold, the Patriots were too much for the Wildcats to overcome as they took the match in straight sets, 25-12, 25-19, 25-8. LC will play their second of three straight home matches on Saturday against the University of Texas at Dallas, beginning at 2 p.m.

With a nearly full house on hand to get their first look at the first volleyball team in school history, the nerves of the situation got to the Wildcats in the first set as the Patriots jumped out to a 9-0 lead before the Wildcats could get on the board. The first LC point scored on their home floor came off the hit of Paris Babino on a feed from Olivia Huvall to make the score 9-1. Tyler controlled the majority of the rest of the set going ahead 22-8 before a quick turn of thee points in the Wildcats favor that featured kills from Sadi Jones and Jaslyn Bright.

The Wildcats quickly put the difficult first set behind them, storming out to a 5-0 lead on the Patriots to start the second stanza. An ace by Taylor Payne and two kills form Zharian Maxmillion put the Wildcats on top early, but the Patriots would eventually respond. With LC still on top, 13-11, Tyler regained their footing and five straight points to take the 16-13 lead on the Wildcats. It would be a lead they would not relinquish the rest of the way as the outscored LC 14-6 to take the second, and closest of the sets, 25-19.

In the final set of the night, the Patriots showed why they are considered one of the best teams in the country, as they pulled away from the Wildcats with a series of nine straight points to take a commanding 18-4 lead on LC. The Wildcats got a pair of points on Tyler attack errors and two kills from Bright but UTT had the set and match well in hand by that point and finished the night with a 25-8 set victory.

Jaslyn Bright had another double digit kill night with 10, thanks in large part to 15 assists from Paris Babino. The Wildcats host #13 ranked UT Dalls Saturday at 2 p.m. in H.O. West Fieldhouse. Follow LC volleyball on Twitter @LC_wvolleyball and like them on Facebook for the latest on the team.

Print Friendly Version