ODESSA, Texas – The Cameron University Volleyball team earned its first victory of the season Friday evening, battling past the University of Texas Permian Basin in a five-set Lone Star Conference thriller inside the UTPB Gym Complex. After dropping the opening set, the Aggies responded to win three of the final four frames and secure the 17-25, 25-23, 26-24, 15-25, 15-12 victory. Cameron gets the win over former Head Coach Melissa Avila and snaps a 19-game losing streak.
Cameron found itself trailing early after UTPB used a strong offensive performance to claim the opening set, 25-17. The Aggies responded quickly in the second, jumping out to a 5-1 advantage behind the serve of Anastasija Andelic, who recorded back-to-back service aces during the run. Cameron maintained the advantage throughout much of the frame and held off a late Falcon rally to take the set, 25-23, and even the match. The Aggies carried the momentum into a back-and-forth third set that featured six ties and five lead changes. Cameron built a 19-15 advantage before UTPB answered with an 8-0 run to take a 23-19 lead. The Aggies refused to go away, scoring four straight points to tie the frame at 23-23. After UTPB moved ahead 24-23, Presleigh Roest delivered three consecutive kills to complete the comeback and give Cameron a 26-24 victory. UT Permian Basin responded in the fourth set, building an early advantage and forcing a decisive fifth frame with a 25-15 win. Neither team was able to create much separation in the fifth as the deciding set featured eight ties. With the score even at 10-10, Cameron moved ahead on a UTPB service error before Roest followed with a kill for a 12-10 advantage. The Falcons pulled within one at 12-11, but the Aggies answered and reached match point at 14-12. Taylor Silva then delivered the final kill of the night to secure the 15-12 set victory and Cameron's first win of the season.
Cameron University 3, Univerity of Texas Permian Basin 2
Cameron University: 1-12, 1-2 Lone Star
UT Permian Basin: 5-4, 0-3 Lone Star
Key Performers
Caitlyn Cornell led the Cameron attack with a team-high 11 kills on 37 attempts while hitting .216. She also led the Aggies at the net with two solo blocks and two block assists, finishing with a team-high 14 points.
Presleigh Roest provided a spark off the bench with nine kills on 20 attempts and just two errors for a team-best .350 hitting percentage. She added one solo block and two block assists to finish with 11 points.
Maria Osorio finished with eight kills, five digs and a block assist, while Taylor Silva added six kills and four digs.
Anastasija Andelic contributed across the board with five kills, a team-high three service aces, 15 digs and two total blocks.
Mavery Salisbury directed the Aggie offense with a team-high 28 assists while adding 13 digs, two service aces and a block assist.
Addison McClure anchored Cameron defensively with a match-high 23 digs while adding five assists.
Key Stats
Cameron
Kills: 47
Aces: 7
Assists: 44
Digs: 79
Blocks: 8
Attack Errors: 24
Hitting Percentage: .122
UT Permian Basin
Kills: 69
Aces: 4
Assists: 63
Digs: 101
Blocks: 8
Attack Errors: 29
Hitting Percentage: .211
The Aggies continue on the road and will play Angelo State University tomorrow September 26th at 2:00 PM CT in San Angelo, TX. Catch the action on FloCollege.
