Two UT Arlington volleyball posts in a row will reference a win. Last week, the team defeated the Utah Tech Trailblazers. This week will also reference a win. That hasn't happened since September 19th's volleyball entry. It also comes at a time that it was desperately needed. One match before the halfway mark in Western Athletic Conference play, the Mavericks were in a tie for last place. Now, they are knocking on the door of third place.
It was another one-match week as the Mavericks hosted California Baptist. The Lancers defeated the Mavs in Riverside California more than a week prior and after UTA beat Utah Tech, the previously unbeaten conference leader, the CBU rematch was highly anticipated.
The first set left no doubt that the high UTA was riding was still in effect. The Mavs won the opener to the match by 11 points. There wasn't any large-scale run that contributed to the margin. Rather it was quite a bit of consistent, multi-points efforts that kept the lead growing at a steady pace. The Mavs hit a spectacular .522 compared to CBU's .16.
The second frame was quite a bit different. The Lancers scored five of the first six points to start. Then the teams kept the same pace early. With Cal Baptist leading UTA 9-5, the Mavericks scored seven straight, three kills from Junior outside hitter Evyn Snook and another three points off CBU errors. UTA then returned the favor and had three errors in a 6-0 Lancer run. After a UTA point, three more errors contributed to a 4-1 CBU run and a 20-15 Cal Baptist edge.
Things looked dicey when another attack error gave CBU a 23-19 advantage. However, that was the last UTA error of the set as the Mavs went on another long run without allowing a point as Junior middle blocker Hana Aiana and Freshman outside hitter Camryn McMinn had two kills each while the Lancers committed two errors of their own to give UTA another set win, 25-23.
CBU got a brief four-point lead early in set 3 before UTA evened up the score. The teams traded points midway through before the Mavericks landed a 4-1 run and a 22-19 lead. Neither team wanted to give up. UTA had match point at 24-22, 24-23, 25-24, 27-26 and 29-28. CBU had set point at 25-26, 27-28 and 30-29 before getting the 31st point to give them their first set of the match. UTA did commit two service errors, an attack error and were blocked twice as they attempted to end the match in a sweep.
I feared the end of the third would set the tone for the remaining two sets. Mav fans have seen a crucial moment in a match go against UTA and there was nothing left in the tank after that. But not only did that not prove true, there wouldn't even be two sets as the Mavs won the fourth 25-21.
UTA never trailed in the set, but never had a big lead either as the margin was generally two or three points. The 19th and 20th point scored did put the lead at five and the Mavs kept pace the rest of the way for the win. Like the opening set, UTA again hit well, .459. CBU did as well, hitting 367, including just two errors.
Overall, the Mavericks offense was just too much, notching 65 kills to CBU's 44. The defense has slowly been improving, staying even with eight blocks each while UTA had 57 digs to 49 for the Lancers. While it generally is a negligible stat, though UTA has been deadly at the service line, but CBU actually had seven aces to UTA's six. What didn't help this time was the 13 service errors UTA committed, compared to eight Lancer miscues.
The team still isn't cruising through, though I'd wager no one is expecting that. But they starting to remember how to win again. The end of the third set had the opposite effect that I feared it would have. The last half of conference play is as good a time as ever. In fact, it was reminiscent of some 2024 moments. That team just refused to lose. It looked like that again.
There are two more anticipated rematches set for this week. On Thursday the Tarleton State Texans make their Arlington trip. It was a disappointing five-set loss in Stephenville in the second WAC contest that started a four-match losing streak. TSU is 5-2 in conference play and in third place. UTA is 3-4 right behind in fourth. The outcome likely won't change the two teams positioning specifically. However, UTA can move itself into a match behind with the Texans still to play WAC leader Utah Valley on Saturday. Meanwhile TSU can virtually lock in third place with a win.
Saturday, UTA heads west on I-20 to face Abilene Christian. In the most perplexing loss of the year to me, the Wildcats defeated UTA in just four sets in College Park Center. ACU is half a match back of UTA at 3-5. Even not knowing the result of the Thursday match, this will have a big impact on the final standings. UTA certainly will have a chip on their shoulder and ACU will have confidence to know they can beat UTA.
I don't think anyone expected the runaway that was last year. It is a different kind of nice to experience meaningful matches to move your team up or down the standings. It's also good to see a team overcome obstacles. Mav Nation are hoping for a few more the next three weeks. We'll know a lot more about where UTA will land in the standings this time next week.
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