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Box Score

LAKE CHARLES, Louisiana – The University of Texas-Pan American Broncs volleyball team opened up the Big Daddy's Invitational with a 3-0 sweep of the University of Louisiana at Monroe Warhawks on Friday at Memorial Gym on the campus of McNeese State.

At 7-3, the Broncs are now tied for the third best start in program history. They were also 7-3 in 1995.
 
The Broncs trailed early on in the first set, but a kill by Maria Kliefoth tied it at 10. Diara Reynolds and Haley Durham recorded back-to-back kills and then Alisha Watson recorded a service ace to give UTPA the 17-14 lead. The Broncs closed out the first set with an 8-4 run taking it 25-18.
 
In the second set, the Broncs jumped out to a 6-0 lead after a service ace by Macey Singleton and a ULM attack error. Another kill by Kliefoth pushed the Broncs' lead to 13-6. Later in the set, Alisha Watson added to the lead with a kill making it 19-8. Kliefoth and Anjane Janda teamed up for a block to give UTPA the second set 25-13.
 
The Broncs got the scoring started in the third set when they got a block from Kliefoth and Watson. UTPA then took the 6-3 lead after a kill from Watson and then later in the set Kasey Sanchez made it 13-5 a kill of her own. The Broncs took the third set 25-16 and the match.
 
Maria Kliefoth recorded eight kills to lead the Broncs' offense. Diara Reynolds, Alisha Watson and Haley Durham each added six kills. Nycole Masaki paced the offense with 27 assists while adding four digs and two service aces. Nausheen Merchant led the defense with eight digs.
 
Hadley Schwartz and Kaitlyn Shearer paced the Warhawks (1-8) with seven kills. Blanca Ocana recorded 13 assists and four digs while Marcela Araya led the way with 11 digs.
 
The Broncs are back in action today at 4:30 p.m. in their second match of the Big Daddy's Invitational when they take on Prairie View A&M.