Cameron notches first LSC win
October 19, 2018
Cameron University Athletics
Kenton Means – Sports Information Director
LAWTON, Okla. — The Cameron University volleyball team notched their first Lone Star Conference win on Friday night, beating UT Permian Basin 3-1 to snap a 14 match skid.
The Aggies used a balanced attack to get the victory, as Paige Dixon led the way with 12 kills on a .348 attack percentage, Brandy Carr had 11 kills on a .381 clip, and Brittany Lawson and Shantalle Demirjian each chipped in 10; Ashleigh McFatridge was one kill shy of reaching double-digits. As a team, CU hit .233 and got strong play out of their setters, with Katherine Manning posting 26 assists and Bailee Smith adding 21.
Defensively, Brittnee Altic added 23 digs to her career total, while Manning recorded her ninth double-double of the year with 13 digs. On the block, Jazmin Luster led the way with four and Dixon, Carr, and McFatridge each had three, as CU totaled seven as a team.
Cameron opened up set one with a 6-3 lead, but UTPB quickly erased that with three straight points. The two teams then battled back and forth until CU used a 5-0 run to take a 15-10 lead mid-way through the set. After a three point swing, the Falcons took control of momentum and scored 10 in a row to take back and extend the lead to 22-16. Cameron would get close again, using a 4-0 stretch capped by a block assist by Luster and McFatridge, but Permian Basin would go on to win the set 25-22.
CU responded by coming out of the gates in the second set firing, taking an early 6-1 lead. However, this match was back and forth and UTPB answered with six straight to take a 7-6 lead. The two teams battled to a tie at 19, and that’s when CU took control and outscored the Falcons 6-1 to close out the set 25-20 and even the match.
The Aggies continued that momentum into a dominant set three win. They opened the frame up with a 9-2 lead and at one point led by 12. CU hit .324 with 15 kills to secure the 25-14 win and take a 2-1 lead.
Like sets one and two, the third was a fight with neither team giving in to the other. Mid-way through, Cameron found themselves down 16-13 after another 5-0 run by the Falcons. But the Aggies came back with a five point run of their own capped by a McFatridge kill to take a 18-16 lead. UTPB stayed with the Aggies answering the next couple of scores, but CU would wear them down late, going on a 5-1 stretch and closing out the set with an Altic service ace to secure the win.
Skyler Friel led the Falcons with 12 kills on a .310 percentage, while Kiera Granado and Analise Lucio combined for 41 assists.
The Aggies now sit a 3-21 on the season and are 1-13 in LSC matches, while UT Permian Basin is now 11-11 overall and 6-7 in league contests.
Cameron will be back in action at the Aggie Gym on Saturday, as they host Western New Mexico starting at 2 p.m.; it will be CU’s senior day.
