College volleyball: Lady Falcons clinch Heartland Conference tournament berth

Maybe the UTPB volleyball team didn’t reach the playoffs in dramatic fashion.

A knockdown, drag-out fight against Newman this weekend might have made for a more intense finish.

But the result is sweet all the same. The Lady Falcons obliterated hapless Oklahoma Panhandle State 25-12, 25-17, 25-13 in Heartland Conference action Thursday night.

Coupled with the victory Dallas Baptist squeaked out in five sets over Newman (11-20, 6-7) Thursday night, UTPB has clinched the fourth and final spot in the Heartland Conference tournament heading into Saturday’s season finale at 2 p.m. against Newman in the Falcon Dome.

“We were just planning on having to win Saturday,” UTPB head coach Steve Aicinena said. “As far as I’m concerned, we need a win regardless of the outcome of the Dallas Baptist match.”

Simply to put themselves in position to clinch, the Lady Falcons (15-19, 8-5) needed to take care of Oklahoma Panhandle State (1-25, 0-13) first.

But the Aggies didn’t offer a whole lot of resistance.

After the Lady Falcons’ regular starting lineup cruised to a 25-12 victory in the first set, Aicinena started substituting liberally to get his backups some playing time.

Oklahoma Panhandle State took a 6-0 lead to start the third set, but after freshman middle hitter Jamie Rodell — a Nolanville native who spent the day waiting for family and friends at Fort Hood to let her know they were OK — stuffed two Aggies shots and came up with a kill to tie it 7-7, UTPB cruised.

Rodell finished with six kills and 3.5 blocks.

“We have to learn to play with that chemistry,” Rodell said. “We don’t know each other’s moves or anything like that.”

Now, the Lady Falcons have to take care of unfinished business against Newman, a team that knocked off UTPB 20-25, 28-26, 17-25, 25-16, 15-13 on Oct. 10.

“We want that match so bad,” senior opposite Molly Atnip said. “Out of all the games we played this year, I think that one was the most upsetting.”

The Lady Falcons have a chance to erase that memory Saturday.

UTPB def. Oklahoma Panhandle State

25-12, 25-17, 25-13

At the Falcon Dome

Kills — OPSU: Krisha Roach 10, Karissa Bowron 3, Chelsie Douglas 2, Amanda Lopez 2, Kala Belson 2, Melissa Marshall 1, Breanna Drayer 1, Hillary Isleifson 1. UTPB: Alex Genung 10, Jamie Rodell 6, Christina Bogers 3, Mica Lamprecht 3, Brittany Ammons 3, Heather Sanchez 3, Molly Atnip 2, Brianna Tunnel 2, Chassidy Johnson 2, Sara Torres 1.

Blocks — OPSU: Krisha Roach 1.5, Hillary Isleifson 0.5, Kala Belson 0.5, Breanna Drayer 0.5. UTPB: Jamie Rodell 3.5, Chassidy Johnson 1.5, Alex Genung 1.5, Brianna Tunnel 1, Molly Atnip 0.5, Sara Torres 0.5, Brittany Ammons 0.5.

Assists — OPSU: Hillary Isleifson 18, Karyssa Bowron 2, Josey Peterson 1. UTPB: Brianna Tunnell 15, Sara Torres 10, Heather Sanchez 2, Mica Lamprecht 1, Danae Eckart 1.

Digs — OPSU: Karyssa Bowron 5, Josey Peterson 3, Krisha Roach 3, Hillary Isleifson 3, Breanna Drayer 2, Jerlyn Dewindt 2, Amanda Lopez 2, Chelsie Douglas 2. UTPB: Mica Lamprecht 5, Sara Torres 3, Heather Sanchez 3, Alex Genung 2, Brianna Tunnell 2, Christina Bogers 2, Melanie Del Bosque 2.

Aces — OPSU: Krisha Roach 1. UTPB: Melanie Del Bosque 3, Sara Torres 2, Heather Sanchez 2, Christina Bogers 1, Mica Lamprecht 1.

Records

Oklahoma Panhandle State 1-25, 0-13 Heartland. UTPB 15-19, 8-5.